Forced magnetic reconnection

Technical Report · Thu Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1984

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6295470· OSTI ID:6295470

Hahm, T S; Kulsrud, R M

By studying a simple model problem, we examine the time evolution of magnetic field islands which are induced by perturbing the boundary surrounding an incompressible plasma with a resonant surface inside. We find that for sufficiently small boundary perturbations, the reconnection and island formation process occurs on the tearing mode time scale defined by Furth, Killeen, and Rosenbluth. For larger perturbations the time scale is that defined by Rutherford. The resulting asymptotic equilibrium is such that surface currents in the resonant region vanish. A detailed analytical picture of this reconnection process is presented.

• Research Organization: Princeton Univ., NJ (USA). Plasma Physics Lab.
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-76CH03073
• OSTI ID: 6295470
• Report Number(s): PPPL-2161; ON: DE85004396
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
700202* -- Fusion Power Plant Technology-- Magnet Coils & Fields
ANNULAR SPACE
BOUNDARY LAYERS
CONFIGURATION
INSTABILITY
LAYERS
MAGNETIC FIELD CONFIGURATIONS
MAGNETIC ISLANDS
PLASMA
PLASMA INSTABILITY
PLASMA MACROINSTABILITIES
ROTATIONAL TRANSFORM
SPACE
TEARING INSTABILITY
TOROIDAL CONFIGURATION