Stability of tearing modes in tokamak plasmas

Journal Article · Fri Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1994 · Physics of Plasmas; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.870628· OSTI ID:7041611

Hegna, C C; Callen, J D ^[1]

---

1. Departments of Nuclear Engineering and Engineering Physics and Physics, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin 53706-1687 (United States)

The stability properties of [ital m][ge]2 tearing instabilities in tokamak plasmas are analyzed. A boundary layer theory is used to find asymptotic solutions to the ideal external kink equation, which are used to obtain a simple analytic expression for the tearing instability parameter [Delta][prime]. This calculation generalizes previous work on this topic by considering more general toroidal equilibria (however, toroidal coupling effects are ignored.) Constructions of [Delta][prime] are obtained for plasmas with finite beta and for islands that have nonzero width. A simple heuristic estimate is given for the value of the saturated island width when the instability criterion is violated. A connection is made between the calculation of the asymptotic matching parameter in the finite beta and island width case to the nonlinear analog of the Glasser effect [Phys. Fluids [bold 18], 875 (1975)].

• DOE Contract Number: FG02-86ER53218
• OSTI ID: 7041611
• Journal Information: Physics of Plasmas; (United States), Journal Name: Physics of Plasmas; (United States) Vol. 1:7; ISSN PHPAEN; ISSN 1070-664X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
700310 -- Plasma Confinement-- (1992-)
700340* -- Plasma Waves
Oscillations
& Instabilities-- (1992-)
700370 -- Plasma Fluid & MHD Properties-- (1992-)
BOUNDARY LAYERS
CLOSED PLASMA DEVICES
FLUID MECHANICS
HYDRODYNAMICS
INSTABILITY
LAYERS
MAGNETIC FIELD CONFIGURATIONS
MAGNETIC ISLANDS
MAGNETIC SURFACES
MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMICS
MECHANICS
PLASMA INSTABILITY
PLASMA MACROINSTABILITIES
TEARING INSTABILITY
THERMONUCLEAR DEVICES
TOKAMAK DEVICES