High energy components and collective modes in thermonuclear plasmas
Abstract
The theory of a class of collective modes of a thermonuclear magnetically confined plasma, with frequencies in the range of the ion cyclotron frequency and of its harmonics, is presented. These modes can be excited by their resonant cyclotron interaction with a plasma component of relatively high energy particles characterized by a strongly anisotropic distribution in velocity space. Normal modes that are spatially localized by the inhomogeneity of the plasma density are found. This ensures that the energy gained by their resonant interaction is not convected away. The mode spatial localization can be significantly altered by the magnetic field inhomogeneity for a given class of plasma density profiles. Special attention is devoted to the case of a spin polarized plasma, where the charged products of fusion reactions are anisotropically distributed. We show that for the mode of polarization that enhances nuclear reaction rates the tritium will be rapidly depolarized to toroidal configurations with relatively mild gradients of the confining magnetic field. 18 refs., 9 figs.
- Authors:
- Publication Date:
- Research Org.:
- Princeton Univ., NJ (USA). Plasma Physics Lab.
- OSTI Identifier:
- 6093225
- Report Number(s):
- PPPL-2294
ON: DE86007574
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC02-76CH03073
- Resource Type:
- Technical Report
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: Portions of this document are illegible in microfiche products. Original copy available until stock is exhausted
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY; HARMONIC GENERATION; DISPERSION RELATIONS; NORMAL-MODE ANALYSIS; INHOMOGENEOUS PLASMA; DEPOLARIZATION; HOMOGENEOUS PLASMA; ICR HEATING; FREQUENCY MIXING; HEATING; HIGH-FREQUENCY HEATING; PLASMA; PLASMA HEATING; 700101* - Fusion Energy- Plasma Research- Confinement, Heating, & Production
Citation Formats
Coppi, B, Cowley, S, Detragiache, P, Kulsrud, R, and Pegoraro, F. High energy components and collective modes in thermonuclear plasmas. United States: N. p., 1986.
Web. doi:10.2172/6093225.
Coppi, B, Cowley, S, Detragiache, P, Kulsrud, R, & Pegoraro, F. High energy components and collective modes in thermonuclear plasmas. United States. https://doi.org/10.2172/6093225
Coppi, B, Cowley, S, Detragiache, P, Kulsrud, R, and Pegoraro, F. Sat .
"High energy components and collective modes in thermonuclear plasmas". United States. https://doi.org/10.2172/6093225. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/6093225.
@article{osti_6093225,
title = {High energy components and collective modes in thermonuclear plasmas},
author = {Coppi, B and Cowley, S and Detragiache, P and Kulsrud, R and Pegoraro, F},
abstractNote = {The theory of a class of collective modes of a thermonuclear magnetically confined plasma, with frequencies in the range of the ion cyclotron frequency and of its harmonics, is presented. These modes can be excited by their resonant cyclotron interaction with a plasma component of relatively high energy particles characterized by a strongly anisotropic distribution in velocity space. Normal modes that are spatially localized by the inhomogeneity of the plasma density are found. This ensures that the energy gained by their resonant interaction is not convected away. The mode spatial localization can be significantly altered by the magnetic field inhomogeneity for a given class of plasma density profiles. Special attention is devoted to the case of a spin polarized plasma, where the charged products of fusion reactions are anisotropically distributed. We show that for the mode of polarization that enhances nuclear reaction rates the tritium will be rapidly depolarized to toroidal configurations with relatively mild gradients of the confining magnetic field. 18 refs., 9 figs.},
doi = {10.2172/6093225},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/6093225},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {1986},
month = {2}
}