Nonlinear evolution of the resistive tearing mode

Journal Article · Tue May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1984 · Phys. Fluids; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.864728· OSTI ID:7183447

Steinolfson, R S; Hoven, G V

The nonlinear behavior of the tearing instability is investigated with numerical solutions of the resistive, incompressible, magnetohydrodynamic equations. Simulations have been completed for values of the Lundquist number S from 10/sup 2/ to 10/sup 6/ and wavelength parameter ..cap alpha.. = 2..pi..a/lambda from 0.042 to 0.5. The initial state for the nonlinear computations is provided by the linear instability. In all cases, the nonlinear mode initially evolves at the linear rate, followed by a period of considerably reduced growth. At high S and low ..cap alpha.., secondary-flow vortices, opposite in direction to the linear vortices, generate a new magnetic island centered at the initial X point. The nonlinear growth rate of the one constant-psi (in the linear regime) solution considered is approximately an order of magnitude less than that of a comparable nonconstant-psi solution over the same time period. The nonconstant-psi computations indicate a reduction of from 8% to 27% of the initial shear-layer magnetic energy, with the larger reductions occurring for the longer wavelength disturbances. The constant-psi simulation shows a reduction two orders of magnitude smaller. The island width of the nonconstant-psi solution becomes larger than twice the scale of the initial shear layer. For all cases, the electric field parallel to the magnetic field grows, at the end of the run, to about 10/sup -3/ times the Driecer field.

• Research Organization: Department of Physics, University of California, Irvine, California 92717
• OSTI ID: 7183447
• Journal Information: Phys. Fluids; (United States), Journal Name: Phys. Fluids; (United States) Vol. 27:5; ISSN PFLDA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
700107* -- Fusion Energy-- Plasma Research-- Instabilities
COLD PLASMA
FLUID FLOW
FLUID MECHANICS
HYDRODYNAMICS
INCOMPRESSIBLE FLOW
INSTABILITY
INSTABILITY GROWTH RATES
MAGNETIC FIELD CONFIGURATIONS
MAGNETIC ISLANDS
MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMICS
MECHANICS
NONLINEAR PROBLEMS
NUMERICAL SOLUTION
PLASMA
PLASMA INSTABILITY
PLASMA MACROINSTABILITIES
SIMULATION
TEARING INSTABILITY
VORTICES