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Magnetic islands at the field reversal surface in reversed field pinches

Journal Article · · Phys. Fluids; (United States)
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.865933· OSTI ID:6279010
In the reversed field pinch (RFP), magnetic field perturbations having zero poloidal mode number and any toroidal mode number are resonant at the field reversal surface. Such perturbations are a particular threat to the RFP because of their weak radial dependence at low toroidal mode number, and because the toroidal field ripple is essentially of this type. The widths of the resulting islands are calculated in this paper. The self-consistent plasma response is included through the assumption that the plasma relaxes to a Taylor force-free state. The connection with linear tearing mode theory is established for those limits where arbitrarily large islands result from infinitesimal perturbations. Toroidal effects are considered, and application of the theory to RFP experiments is discussed.
Research Organization:
Plasma Physics Laboratory, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544
DOE Contract Number:
AC02-76CH03073
OSTI ID:
6279010
Journal Information:
Phys. Fluids; (United States), Journal Name: Phys. Fluids; (United States) Vol. 29:3; ISSN PFLDA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English