Compressibility as a feature of field reversal maintenance in the reversed-field pinch

Journal Article · Fri Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1985 · Phys. Fluids; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.865060· OSTI ID:5916450

Aydemir, A Y; Barnes, D C; Caramana, E J; Mirin, A A; Nebel, R A; Schnack, D D; Sgro, A G

Five different codes have been used to simulate the identical problem in reversed-field pinch (RFP) dynamics using the resistive magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) model in three dimensions with the same set of initial and boundary conditions. Three codes are compressible, while two are incompressible. The assumption of incompressibility was made in the spirit of reducing the model so that, for example, the codes would run faster while retaining the relevant physics. The results show that the three compressible codes agree quite well with each other and the two incompressible codes agree with each other also, but the compressible and incompressible models show qualitatively different behavior. Most importantly, for a certain set of boundary and initial conditions, the compressible codes predict field reversal maintenance while the incompressible codes do not. Thus compressibility is an important feature of RFP physics. This is in contrast to tokamak physics where the strong toroidal field enforces incompressibility at low poloidal beta.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545
• OSTI ID: 5916450
• Journal Information: Phys. Fluids; (United States), Journal Name: Phys. Fluids; (United States) Vol. 28:3; 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
ALGORITHMS
BOUNDARY CONDITIONS
COMPRESSIBILITY
FLUID MECHANICS
HYDRODYNAMICS
MAGNETIC FIELD CONFIGURATIONS
MAGNETIC FIELD REVERSAL
MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMICS
MATHEMATICAL LOGIC
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
MECHANICS
PINCH EFFECT
PLASMA
PLASMA SIMULATION
REVERSE-FIELD PINCH
SIMULATION
THREE-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS