Kinetic description of Alfven wave heating

Journal Article · Thu Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1982 · Phys. Fluids; (United States)

OSTI ID:5649095

Ross, D W; Chen, G L; Mahajan, S M

Heating of tokamak plasmas by Alfven waves is studied by means of a linearized kinetic model which takes into account electron inertia and Landau damping, finite ion gyroradius, the equilibrium current, and magnetic shear. In cylindrical geometry, a fourth-order set of differential equations in r for the perturbed fields E/sub r/ and E/sub perpendicular/ is solved numerically for modes driven by a sheet current of single helicity and frequency ..omega.., located between the plasma edge and a conducting wall. Realistic profiles of density, temperature, and safety factor are employed. The energy deposition and density fluctuations as functions of r and the total impedance to be expected in experiments on the preteXt tokamak are computed, and optimum conditions for heating are investigated. Mode conversion to the kinetic Alfven wave and its damping are observed in the computed solutions. The plasma impedance is sensitive to the profiles and mode numbers chosen, and, with two exceptions, is consistent with previous work based on magnetohydrodynamics. Kinetic effects can produce ''high Q'' resonant absorption, both for frequencies below the Alfven continuum (corresponding to discrete stable kink modes) and for frequencies such that the Alfven resonance approaches the plasma edge (corresponding to normal modes of the kinetic shear wave in cold plasma).

• Research Organization: Fusion Research Center, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-76ET53036
• OSTI ID: 5649095
• Journal Information: Phys. Fluids; (United States), Journal Name: Phys. Fluids; (United States) Vol. 25:4; ISSN PFLDA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
700101* -- Fusion Energy-- Plasma Research-- Confinement
Heating
& Production
700105 -- Fusion Energy-- Plasma Research-- Plasma Kinetics-Theoretical-- (-1987)
ALFVEN WAVES
CLOSED PLASMA DEVICES
CONFIGURATION
CYLINDRICAL CONFIGURATION
DAMPING
DISPERSION RELATIONS
FLUCTUATIONS
HEATING
HYDROMAGNETIC WAVES
LANDAU DAMPING
NUMERICAL SOLUTION
PLASMA DENSITY
PLASMA HEATING
THERMONUCLEAR DEVICES
TOKAMAK DEVICES
VARIATIONS