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Title: Three-dimensional fluid simulations of the nonlinear drift-resistive ballooning modes in tokamak edge plasmas

Abstract

A three-dimensional study of the turbulence and sheared flow generated by the drift-resistive ballooning modes in tokamak edge plasmas has been completed. The fluid simulations show that 10%--15% percent density fluctuations can develop in the nonlinear state when the self-consistently generated shear flow is suppressed. These modes are also found to give rise to poloidally asymmetric particle transport. Characteristic scale lengths of these fluctuations are isotropic in the plane transverse to [bold B] and smaller than the connection length along the field line. Sheared poloidal flow is self-consistently driven by both the Reynolds stress and the Stringer mechanisms. In the presence of self-consistent shear flow, the transverse spectrum is no longer isotropic transverse to [bold B]. The vortices become elongated in the poloidal direction. Also, there is a substantial reduction in both the level of fluctuations of the density and potential and the associated particle transport. These features are in qualitative agreement with L--H transitions observed in tokamaks.

Authors:
; ; ; ;  [1]
  1. Laboratory for Plasma Research, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742-3511 (United States)
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
6273368
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Physics of Fluids B; (United States)
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 5:10; Journal ID: ISSN 0899-8221
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY; TOKAMAK DEVICES; BALLOONING INSTABILITY; FLUCTUATIONS; MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMICS; PLASMA DRIFT; PLASMA SIMULATION; THREE-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS; TRANSPORT; TURBULENCE; VORTICES; CLOSED PLASMA DEVICES; FLUID MECHANICS; HYDRODYNAMICS; INSTABILITY; MECHANICS; PLASMA INSTABILITY; PLASMA MACROINSTABILITIES; SIMULATION; THERMONUCLEAR DEVICES; VARIATIONS; 700340* - Plasma Waves, Oscillations, & Instabilities- (1992-)

Citation Formats

Guzdar, P N, Drake, J F, McCarthy, D, Hassam, A B, and Liu, C S. Three-dimensional fluid simulations of the nonlinear drift-resistive ballooning modes in tokamak edge plasmas. United States: N. p., 1993. Web. doi:10.1063/1.860842.
Guzdar, P N, Drake, J F, McCarthy, D, Hassam, A B, & Liu, C S. Three-dimensional fluid simulations of the nonlinear drift-resistive ballooning modes in tokamak edge plasmas. United States. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.860842
Guzdar, P N, Drake, J F, McCarthy, D, Hassam, A B, and Liu, C S. 1993. "Three-dimensional fluid simulations of the nonlinear drift-resistive ballooning modes in tokamak edge plasmas". United States. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.860842.
@article{osti_6273368,
title = {Three-dimensional fluid simulations of the nonlinear drift-resistive ballooning modes in tokamak edge plasmas},
author = {Guzdar, P N and Drake, J F and McCarthy, D and Hassam, A B and Liu, C S},
abstractNote = {A three-dimensional study of the turbulence and sheared flow generated by the drift-resistive ballooning modes in tokamak edge plasmas has been completed. The fluid simulations show that 10%--15% percent density fluctuations can develop in the nonlinear state when the self-consistently generated shear flow is suppressed. These modes are also found to give rise to poloidally asymmetric particle transport. Characteristic scale lengths of these fluctuations are isotropic in the plane transverse to [bold B] and smaller than the connection length along the field line. Sheared poloidal flow is self-consistently driven by both the Reynolds stress and the Stringer mechanisms. In the presence of self-consistent shear flow, the transverse spectrum is no longer isotropic transverse to [bold B]. The vortices become elongated in the poloidal direction. Also, there is a substantial reduction in both the level of fluctuations of the density and potential and the associated particle transport. These features are in qualitative agreement with L--H transitions observed in tokamaks.},
doi = {10.1063/1.860842},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/6273368}, journal = {Physics of Fluids B; (United States)},
issn = {0899-8221},
number = ,
volume = 5:10,
place = {United States},
year = {Fri Oct 01 00:00:00 EDT 1993},
month = {Fri Oct 01 00:00:00 EDT 1993}
}