Ion temperature gradient turbulence simulations and plasma flux surface shape

Journal Article · Mon Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1999 · Physics of Plasmas

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.873694· OSTI ID:688010

Waltz, R E; Miller, R L ^[1]

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1. General Atomics, P.O. Box 85608, San Diego, California 92186-5608 (United States)

A generalization of the circular {cflx s}-{alpha} local magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) equilibrium model to finite aspect ratio ({ital A}), elongation ({kappa}), and triangularity ({delta}) has been added to a gyrokinetic stability code and our gyrofluid nonlinear ballooning mode code for ion temperature gradient (ITG) turbulence. This allows systematic studies of stability and transport for shaped flux surfaces with the same minor midplane radius label ({ital r}), plasma gradients, {ital q}, {cflx s}, and {alpha} while varying {ital A}, {kappa}, and {delta}. It is shown that the (linear, nonlinear, and sheared) E{times}B terms in the equation of motion are unchanged from a circle at radius {ital r} with an effective field B{sub unit}=B{sub 0}{rho}d{rho}/rdr, where {chi}=B{sub 0}{rho}{sup 2}/2 is the toroidal flux, {ital r} is the flux surface label, and B{sub 0} is the magnetic axis field. This leads to a {open_quotes}natural gyroBohm diffusivity{close_quotes} {chi}{sup natural}, which at moderate q=2 to 3 is weakly dependent on shape ({kappa}) at fixed B{sub unit}. Since B{sub unit}/B{sub 0}{proportional_to}{kappa} and {l_angle}{vert_bar}{nabla}r{vert_bar}{sup 2}{r_angle}{approx}(1+{kappa}{sup 2})/(2{kappa}{sup 2}), the label independent {chi}{sup ITER}={chi}{sub natural}/{l_angle}{vert_bar}{nabla}r{vert_bar}{sup 2}{r_angle} at fixed B{sub 0} scales as 2/(1+{kappa}{sup 2}) with much weaker scaling at high-{ital q} and stronger at low-{ital q} where increased {kappa} is stabilizing. The generalized critical E{times}B shear rate to be compared to the maximum linear growth rate is a flux surface quantity (r/q)d/dr(cq/rB{sub unit}d{phi}{sub 0}/dr)=(r/q)d(E{sub x0}/B{sub p}R)/dr. {copyright} {ital 1999 American Institute of Physics.}

• OSTI ID: 688010
• Journal Information: Physics of Plasmas, Journal Name: Physics of Plasmas Journal Issue: 11 Vol. 6; ISSN PHPAEN; ISSN 1070-664X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
BALLOONING INSTABILITY
ION TEMPERATURE
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MHD EQUILIBRIUM
PLASMA SIMULATION
SHEAR
TEMPERATURE GRADIENTS
TURBULENCE