Stabilization of the tearing mode in high-temperature plasma

Journal Article · Thu Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1983 · Phys. Fluids; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.864441· OSTI ID:5732371

Drake, J F; Antonsen, Jr, T M; Hassam, A B; Gladd, N T

An analytical and numerical study of the stability of tearing modes is carried out using the Braginskii fluid equations. An electron temperature gradient coupled with finite (nonzero) parallel thermal conductivity causes large parallel currents to flow in the vicinity of the singular layer (where kxB = 0). The pressure-driven currents are stabilizing and in the limit ..beta..L/sup 2//sub s//L/sup 2//sub n/>1, where ..beta.. is the ratio of the thermal to magnetic pressure and L/sub s/ and L/sub n/ are the magnetic shear and density scale lengths, the linear tearing mode no longer exists. In this high-..beta.. limit, the magnetic perturbation of the tearing mode is completely shielded from the singular layer so that no reconnection of the magnetic field can take place. The relationship between the tearing mode and previously investigated temperature-gradient-driven modes and the implications of the results for resistive modes in present and future tokamak discharges is discussed.

• Research Organization: Laboratory for Plasma and Fusion Energy Studies, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742
• OSTI ID: 5732371
• Journal Information: Phys. Fluids; (United States), Journal Name: Phys. Fluids; (United States) Vol. 26:9; ISSN PFLDA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
700107* -- Fusion Energy-- Plasma Research-- Instabilities
ANALYTICAL SOLUTION
BETA RATIO
COUPLING
CURRENTS
ELECTRIC CURRENTS
ELECTRON TEMPERATURE
HOT PLASMA
INSTABILITY
NUMERICAL SOLUTION
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
PLASMA
PLASMA INSTABILITY
PLASMA MACROINSTABILITIES
PRESSURE DEPENDENCE
STABILIZATION
TEARING INSTABILITY
TEMPERATURE GRADIENTS
THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY
THERMODYNAMIC PROPERTIES