Relaxation phenomena in the high-temperature S-1 spheromak

Journal Article · Mon Dec 19 04:00:00 EST 1988 · Phys. Rev. Lett.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.61.2847· OSTI ID:6582533

Ono, Y; Ellis, Jr, R A; Janos, A C; Levinton, F M; Mayo, R M; Motley, R W; Ueda, Y; Yamada, M

Operation of the S-1 device in a high--current-density (j/n/sub e/greater than or equal to2 x 10/sup -14/ A m) regime has created high--electron-temperature spheromaks (50 ev less than or equal toT/sub e/less than or equal to130 eV). The mechanisms and causes of the periodic relaxation events often observed in these hotter plasmas were made clear. A relationship between the MHD relaxation cycle and confinement was revealed for the first time. Resistive loss at the outer edge causes a departure from the initial force-free minimum-energy Taylor state to an MHD profile unstable to low-n ideal MHD modes; a relaxation event then returns the configuration to a Taylor state.

• Research Organization: Princeton University, Plasma Physics Laboratory, P.O. Box 451, Princeton, New Jersey 08543
• OSTI ID: 6582533
• Journal Information: Phys. Rev. Lett.; (United States), Journal Name: Phys. Rev. Lett.; (United States) Vol. 61:25; ISSN PRLTA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
700101 -- Fusion Energy-- Plasma Research-- Confinement
Heating
& Production
700107* -- Fusion Energy-- Plasma Research-- Instabilities
CLOSED PLASMA DEVICES
ELECTRON TEMPERATURE
ENERGY RANGE
EV RANGE
EV RANGE 10-100
EV RANGE 100-1000
FLUID MECHANICS
HYDRODYNAMICS
MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMICS
MECHANICS
OPERATION
PLASMA
RELAXATION
SPHEROMAK DEVICES
THERMONUCLEAR DEVICES
TOKAMAK DEVICES