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Alfven instability and micromagnetic islands in a plasma with sheared magnetic fields

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/7086260· OSTI ID:7086260
The normal mode equation for coupled drift and Alfven waves in a finite-..beta.. nonuniform plasma with a sheared magnetic field is solved, in the slab geometry, to investigate the instability of slow Alfven waves. It is shown, that, besides having an appreciable growth rate, the instability also produces microscopic ''tearing'' of the rational surfaces which has important implications for anomalous transport.
Research Organization:
Princeton Univ., N.J. (USA). Plasma Physics Lab.
DOE Contract Number:
EY-76-C-02-3073
OSTI ID:
7086260
Report Number(s):
PPPL-1358
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English