Magnetohydrodynamic clump instability

Journal Article · Mon Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1988 · Phys. Fluids; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.866612· OSTI ID:7055915

Tetreault, D J

The theory of magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) clump instability in current driven plasma is presented. MHD clump fluctuations are current carrying bundles of correlated magnetic field lines. The instability occurs when turbulent mixing of the mean current density at island overlap produces clumps at a rate faster than their decay as a result of magnetic field line stochasticity. The renormalized dynamical equation describing MHD clump instability is derived from one-fluid MHD equations and conserves the dynamical invariants of the exact equations. The renormalized equation is a nonlinear, turbulent version of the Newcomb equation of linear MHD stability theory and can be cast into the form of a nonlinear MHD energy principle. MHD clump instability is a dynamical route to the Taylor state.

• Research Organization: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139
• OSTI ID: 7055915
• Journal Information: Phys. Fluids; (United States), Journal Name: Phys. Fluids; (United States) Vol. 31:8; ISSN PFLDA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
700107* -- Fusion Energy-- Plasma Research-- Instabilities
CURRENTS
ELECTRIC CURRENTS
FLUID MECHANICS
HYDRODYNAMICS
INSTABILITY
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMICS
MECHANICS
NONLINEAR PROBLEMS
PLASMA
PLASMA INSTABILITY
RENORMALIZATION
STOCHASTIC PROCESSES