Observations of toroidal and poloidal rotation in the high beta tokamak Torus II
The macroscopic rotation of plasma in a toroidal containment device is an important feature of the equilibrium. Toroidal and poloidal rotation in the high beta tokamak Torus II is measured experimentally by examining the Doppler shift of the 4685.75 A He II line emitted from the plasma. The toroidal flow at an average velocity of 1.6 x 10/sup 6/ cm/sec, a small fraction of the ion thermal speed, moves in the same direction as the toroidal plasma current. The poloidal flow follows the ion diamagnetic current direction, also at an average speed of 1.6 x 10/sup 6/ cm/sec. In view of certain ordering parameters, the toroidal flow is compared with predictions from neoclassical theory in the collosional, Pfirsch-Schluter regime. The poloidal motion, however results from an E x B drift in a positive radial electric field, approaching a stable ambipolar state. This radial electric field is determined from theory by using the measured poloidal velocity. Mechanisms for the time evolution of rotation are also examined. It appears that the circulation damping is governed by a global decay of the temperature and density gradients which, in turn, may be functions of radiative cooling, loss of equilibrium due to external field decay, or the emergence of a growing instability, occasionally observed in CO/sub 2/ interferometry measurements.
- Research Organization:
- Columbia Univ., New York (USA). Plasma Physics Lab.
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC02-76ET53016
- OSTI ID:
- 6204906
- Report Number(s):
- DOE/ET/53016-T1; COO-2456-82; ON: DE83011806
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: Thesis
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
TORUS-II TOKAMAK
PLASMA DRIFT
CARBON DIOXIDE LASERS
HIGH-BETA PLASMA
PLASMA
PLASMA DIAGNOSTICS
ROTATION
CLOSED PLASMA DEVICES
GAS LASERS
LASERS
MOTION
THERMONUCLEAR DEVICES
TOKAMAK DEVICES
700104* - Fusion Energy- Plasma Research- Plasma Kinetics-Experimental- (-1987)