Finite-Larmor-radius stabilization of ballooning modes in an axisymmetric tandem mirror

Technical Report · Sat Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1980

OSTI ID:7060851

D'Ippolito, D A; Francis, G L; Myra, J R; Tang, W M

The stability of an axisymmetric tandem mirror to ballooning modes is examined including the effect of finite ion gyroradius stabilization. The central cell of the tandem mirror is treated as a long-thin system with isotropic pressure, while the end plug is modeled by a stabilizing boundary condition. For the particular equilibrium considered, the finite-Larmor radius corrections to the ideal magnetohydrodynamic theory indicate a strong stabilizing effect on high-n ballooning modes even for quite modest values of gyroradius, k/sub perpendicular to/rho/sub i/ approx. a/L much less than 1. The dependence of ..beta../sub c/ on k/sub perpendicular to/rho/sub i/ is computed, and possible physical mechanisms associated with this stabilizing influence are discussed.

• Research Organization: Science Applications, Inc., Boulder, CO (USA). Plasma Research Inst.
• DOE Contract Number: AC03-76ET53057
• OSTI ID: 7060851
• Report Number(s): SAI-254-80-633-LJ; PRI-18
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
700107* -- Fusion Energy-- Plasma Research-- Instabilities
ANALYTICAL SOLUTION
BALLOONING INSTABILITY
BETA RATIO
FLUID MECHANICS
HYDRODYNAMICS
INSTABILITY
ISOTROPY
LARMOR RADIUS
MAGNETIC MIRRORS
MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMICS
MECHANICS
OPEN PLASMA DEVICES
PLASMA INSTABILITY
PLASMA MACROINSTABILITIES
STABILIZATION
THERMONUCLEAR DEVICES
TMX DEVICES