Coalescence instability of magnetic islands

Journal Article · Sat Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1977 · Phys. Fluids; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.861709· OSTI ID:7240003

Finn, J M; Kaw, P K

The stability of a periodic magnetic island structure using the ideal magnetohydrodynamic equations has been investigated. An instability is found which describes the tendency toward coalescence of parallel currents in the neighboring islands. It is expected that this instability will proceed at a fast hydromagnetic rate as long as the forces driving the instability can overcome the stabilizing forces due to the compression of the magnetic field between the islands. Beyond that phase, resistivity is expected to dominate the tendency toward island coalescence. Island coalescence of this kind can explain why in the observation of tearing mode instabilities in tokamaks, only the modes with minimum values of m and n are seen. (AIP)

• Research Organization: Plasma Physics Laboratory, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08540
• OSTI ID: 7240003
• Journal Information: Phys. Fluids; (United States), Journal Name: Phys. Fluids; (United States) Vol. 20:1; ISSN PFLDA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
700107* -- Fusion Energy-- Plasma Research-- Instabilities
CLOSED PLASMA DEVICES
DISTURBANCES
HELICAL INSTABILITY
INSTABILITY
MAGNETIC FIELD CONFIGURATIONS
PLASMA INSTABILITY
PLASMA MACROINSTABILITIES
THERMONUCLEAR DEVICES
TOKAMAK DEVICES
TWO-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS