The effect of viscosity on the resistive tearing mode with the presence of shear flow

Journal Article · Thu Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1990 · Physics of Fluids B; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.859382· OSTI ID:6055687

Chen, X L; Morrison, P J ^[1]

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1. Department of Physics, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX (USA) Institute for Fusion Studies, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX (USA)

The effect of small viscosity on the constant {psi}'' tearing mode in the presence of shear flow is analyzed using the boundary-layer approach. It is found that the influence of viscosity depends upon the parameter {ital G}{prime}(0)/{ital F}{prime}(0), where {ital G}{prime}(0) and {ital F}{prime}(0) denote the flow shear and magnetic field shear at the magnetic null plane, respectively. When {vert bar}{ital G}{prime}(0)/{ital F}{prime}(0){vert bar}{much lt}1, the tearing mode growth rate is suppressed by the viscosity, but not completely stabilized. When {vert bar}{ital G}{prime}(0)/{ital F}{prime}(0){vert bar}{similar to}O(1) and the viscosity is comparable to the resistivity, the growth rate vanishes as (1{minus}{ital G}{prime}(0){sup 2}/{ital F}{prime}(0){sup 2}){sup 1/3}, when {ital G}{prime}(0){sup 2}{r arrow}{ital F}{prime}(0){sup 2} from below. In the case where 1{minus}({ital G}{prime}(0){sup 2}/{ital F}{prime}(0){sup 2}){lt}0 matching cannot be achieved and the tearing mode vanishes.

• DOE Contract Number: FG05-80ET53088
• OSTI ID: 6055687
• Journal Information: Physics of Fluids B; (USA), Journal Name: Physics of Fluids B; (USA) Vol. 2:11; ISSN PFBPE; ISSN 0899-8221
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
700107* -- Fusion Energy-- Plasma Research-- Instabilities
BOUNDARY LAYERS
CLOSED PLASMA DEVICES
ENERGY LOSSES
FLUID FLOW
INCOMPRESSIBLE FLOW
INSTABILITY
INSTABILITY GROWTH RATES
LAYERS
LOSSES
MAGNETIC FIELDS
PLASMA
PLASMA DRIFT
PLASMA INSTABILITY
PLASMA MACROINSTABILITIES
SHEAR
SINGULARITY
TEARING INSTABILITY
THERMONUCLEAR DEVICES
TOKAMAK DEVICES
VISCOSITY