Kinetic toroidal Alfv{acute e}n eigenmodes in finite-{beta} tokamak plasmas
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of California at Irvine, Irvine, California 92697-4575 (United States)
Kinetic toroidal Alfv{acute e}n eigenmodes (KTAEs) in finite-{beta} circular tokamak plasmas are investigated. Here, {beta} is the ratio between plasma and magnetic pressures, and, formally, {beta}{approximately}scr(O)(r/Rq{sup 2}), with q being the safety factor, r and R denoting, respectively, minor and major radii. A new effect associated with finite parallel electric field effect due to the ion magnetic drift (IMD) is discovered, which is of the same order as that due to the well-known effect associated with the finite ion Larmor radii. The IMD-induced parallel electric field effect is shown to contribute to potential wells for the eigenmodes. Therefore, the IMD-induced parallel electric field effect can discretize the lower Alfv{acute e}n continuum along the real eigenfrequency. Subsequently, this new branch of KTAEs could be readily destabilized by the energetic ions. {copyright} {ital 1998 American Institute of Physics.}
- OSTI ID:
- 599125
- Journal Information:
- Physics of Plasmas, Journal Name: Physics of Plasmas Journal Issue: 4 Vol. 5; ISSN 1070-664X; ISSN PHPAEN
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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