Collisionless m=1 tearing mode

Journal Article · Mon Jan 28 04:00:00 EST 1991 · Physical Review Letters; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.66.425· OSTI ID:5828766

Porcelli, F ^[1]

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1. JET Joint Undertaking, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 3EA, United Kingdom (GB)

The instability of a magnetically confined plasma against macroscopic modes is analyzed in collisionless regimes where magnetic reconnection occurs because of finite electron inertia and the ion gyroradius {rho}{sub {ital i}} replaces the skin depth {ital d} as the width of the mode boundary layer. Growth rates {gamma}/{omega}{sub {ital A}}{similar to}({ital d}/{ital r}{sub {ital s}})({rho}{sub {ital i}}/{ital d}){sup 2/3} are found, with {omega}{sub {ital A}} the Alfven frequency and {ital r}{sub {ital s}} the radius of the reconnecting surface. For typical JET parameters, {gamma}{sup {minus}1}{similar to}50--100 {mu}s, which compares favorably with the observed instability growth time of internal plasma relaxations.

• OSTI ID: 5828766
• Journal Information: Physical Review Letters; (USA), Journal Name: Physical Review Letters; (USA) Vol. 66:4; ISSN PRLTA; ISSN 0031-9007
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
700107* -- Fusion Energy-- Plasma Research-- Instabilities
BOUNDARY LAYERS
COLLISIONLESS PLASMA
CONFINEMENT
CORRELATIONS
INSTABILITY
INSTABILITY GROWTH RATES
JET TOKAMAK
LAYERS
MAGNETIC CONFINEMENT
MAGNETIC RECONNECTION
PLASMA
PLASMA CONFINEMENT
PLASMA INSTABILITY
PLASMA MACROINSTABILITIES
RELAXATION
TEARING INSTABILITY
THERMONUCLEAR REACTORS
TOKAMAK TYPE REACTORS