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Alpha-driven magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) and MHD-induced alpha loss in the Tokamak Fusion Test Reactor

Journal Article · · Physics of Plasmas
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.872363· OSTI ID:587249

Alpha-driven toroidal Alfv{acute e}n eigenmodes (TAEs) are observed as predicted by theory in the post-neutral beam phase in high central q (safety factor) deuterium{endash}tritium (D{endash}T) plasmas in the Tokamak Fusion Test Reactor (TFTR) [D. J. Grove and D. M. Meade, Nucl. Fusion {bold 25}, 1167 (1985)]. The mode location, poloidal structure, and the importance of q profile for TAE instability are discussed. So far no alpha particle loss due to these modes was detected due to the small mode amplitude. However, alpha loss induced by kinetic ballooning modes (KBMs) was observed in high-confinement D{endash}T discharges. Particle orbit simulation demonstrates that the wave{endash}particle resonant interaction can explain the observed correlation between the increase in alpha loss and appearance of multiple high-n (n{ge}6, n is the toroidal mode number) modes.

Research Organization:
Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory
DOE Contract Number:
AC02-76CH03073
OSTI ID:
587249
Report Number(s):
CONF-961102--
Journal Information:
Physics of Plasmas, Journal Name: Physics of Plasmas Journal Issue: 5 Vol. 4; ISSN PHPAEN; ISSN 1070-664X
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English