Radial boundary layers in diffusing toroidal equilibria

Journal Article · Thu Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1977 · Phys. Fluids; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.862032· OSTI ID:7219431

Rosen, M D; Greene, J M

Analytic results in straight cylindrical geometry imply sharp density gradients near the boundary of a plasma decaying by classical diffusion. Utilizing an isothermal one-fluid magnetohydrodynamic model, these results are applied to toroidal configurations and a set of nonlinear equations for a radial boundary layer are obtained. A dominant effect in this region is convective plasma flow along magnetic lines of force, with velocity in the sonic range. This flow pattern matches onto the interior solution of Pfirsch--Schlueter convective flow. Solutions separable in the radial and poloidal directions are found that fulfill both boundary and periodicity conditions, and that result in both smooth subsonic poloidal flow, and weak shock transonic flows. Effects of the flow patterns on diffusion are discussed.

• Research Organization: Plasma Physics Laboratory, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08540
• OSTI ID: 7219431
• Journal Information: Phys. Fluids; (United States), Journal Name: Phys. Fluids; (United States) Vol. 20:9; ISSN PFLDA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
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Heating
& Production
700105 -- Fusion Energy-- Plasma Research-- Plasma Kinetics-Theoretical-- (-1987)
ANALYTICAL SOLUTION
ANNULAR SPACE
BOUNDARY CONDITIONS
BOUNDARY LAYERS
CONFIGURATION
CONFINEMENT
DIFFUSION
FLUID FLOW
FLUID MECHANICS
HYDRODYNAMICS
LAYERS
MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMICS
MECHANICS
PLASMA CONFINEMENT
PLASMA DENSITY
SHOCK WAVES
TOROIDAL CONFIGURATION
TRANSONIC FLOW