Flux surface shape and current profile optimization in tokamaks

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

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.862019· OSTI ID:7299983

Dobrott, D R; Miller, R L

Axisymmetric tokamak equilibria of noncircular cross section are analyzed numerically to study the effects of flux surface shape and current profile on ideal and resistive interchange stability. Various current profiles are examined for circles, ellipses, dees, and doublets. A numerical code separately analyzes stability in the neighborhood of the magnetic axis and in the remainder of the plasma using the criteria of Mercier and Glasser, Greene, and Johnson. Results are interpreted in terms of flux surface averaged quantities such as magnetic well, shear, and the spatial variation in the magnetic field energy density over the cross section. The maximum stable ..beta.. is found to vary significantly with shape and current profile. For current profiles varying linearly with poloidal flux, the highest ..beta..'s found were for doublets. Finally, an algorithm is presented which optimizes the current profile for circles and dees by making the plasma everywhere marginally stable.

• Research Organization: General Atomic Company, San Diego, California 92138
• OSTI ID: 7299983
• Journal Information: Phys. Fluids; (United States), Journal Name: Phys. Fluids; (United States) Vol. 20:8; ISSN PFLDA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
700101* -- Fusion Energy-- Plasma Research-- Confinement
Heating
& Production
BOUNDARY CONDITIONS
CLOSED PLASMA DEVICES
CURRENTS
ELECTRIC CURRENTS
EQUILIBRIUM
MAGNETIC FIELD CONFIGURATIONS
OPTIMIZATION
STABILITY
THERMONUCLEAR DEVICES
TOKAMAK DEVICES