Unstable universal drift eigenmodes in toroidal plasmas

Technical Report · Wed Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 1979

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5992032· OSTI ID:5992032

Cheng, C Z; Chen, L

The eigenmode equation describing ballooning collisionless drift instabilities is analyzed both analytically and numerically. A new branch of eigenmodes, which corresponds to quasi-bound states due to the finite toroidicity, is shown to be destabilized by electron Landau damping for typical Tokamak parameters. This branch cannot be understood by the strong coupling approximation. However, the slab-like (Pearlstein-Berk type) branch is found to remain stable and experience enhanced shear damping due to finite toroidicity.

• Research Organization: Princeton Univ., NJ (USA). Plasma Physics Lab.
• DOE Contract Number: EY-76-C-02-3073
• OSTI ID: 5992032
• Report Number(s): PPPL-1579
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
700107* -- Fusion Energy-- Plasma Research-- Instabilities
BALLOONING INSTABILITY
CLOSED PLASMA DEVICES
COLLISIONLESS PLASMA
DAMPING
DRIFT INSTABILITY
EIGENVALUES
ELECTRON PLASMA WAVES
INSTABILITY
LANDAU DAMPING
PLASMA
PLASMA INSTABILITY
PLASMA MACROINSTABILITIES
PLASMA MICROINSTABILITIES
PLASMA WAVES
SHEAR
THERMONUCLEAR DEVICES
TOKAMAK DEVICES