Inadequacies of finite Larmor radius treatments of the internal tilting instability in field-reversed configurations

Journal Article · Wed Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 1984 · Phys. Fluids; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.864840· OSTI ID:6579069

Schwarzmeier, J L; Seyler, C E

A finite Larmor radius treatment of the tilting instability for field-reversed configurations is presented. It is shown on two accounts that such a treatment is inappropriate. First, the finite Larmor radius terms become infinite at the field null of the magnetic axis, because of the breakdown of the small Larmor radius assumption. Second, numerical computations using realistic parameters show that the magnetic moments of the ions are very poorly conserved at the tips of the flux surfaces in field-reversed configuration equilibria. Therefore finite Larmor radius theories cannot be used reliably to explain the observed stability to tilting of field-reversed configuration experiments.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87544
• OSTI ID: 6579069
• Journal Information: Phys. Fluids; (United States), Journal Name: Phys. Fluids; (United States) Vol. 27:8; ISSN PFLDA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
700107* -- Fusion Energy-- Plasma Research-- Instabilities
CHARGED PARTICLES
CONSERVATION LAWS
DATA
EQUILIBRIUM
FLUID MECHANICS
HYDRODYNAMICS
INFORMATION
INSTABILITY
IONS
LARMOR RADIUS
MAGNETIC FIELD CONFIGURATIONS
MAGNETIC FIELD REVERSAL
MAGNETIC MOMENTS
MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMICS
MECHANICS
NUMERICAL DATA
PINCH EFFECT
PLASMA
PLASMA INSTABILITY
PLASMA MACROINSTABILITIES
REVERSE-FIELD PINCH
TILTING INSTABILITY