Particle in cell simulations of tearing modes in reversed-field-pinch-like plasma

Svidzinski, Vladmir; Li, Hui; Albright, Brian

doi:10.1063/1.2917916

Particle in cell simulations of tearing modes in reversed-field-pinch-like plasma

Journal Article · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 2008 · Physics of Plasmas

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.2917916· OSTI ID:962259

Svidzinski, Vladmir ^[1]; Li, Hui ^[1]; Albright, Brian ^[1]

Los Alamos National Laboratory

Particle in cell (PIC) simulations of tearing modes in two-dimensional plane geometry in a force free reversed field pinch (RFP) like plasma equilibrium are performed to study possible kinetic effects on these modes in RFPs. Linear tearing modes are compared in the PIC and two fluid models. The results showed that the growth rates and the profiles of magnetic field components in the two models are very similar, indicating that the kinetic effects on the tearing modes are weak such that the two fluid approximation is rather accurate for modeling these instabilities in RFPs. During the nonlinear evolution of the tearing mode in this geometry small scale secondary instabilities located near the internal layer of the primary tearing instability are excited. These secondary instabilities appear to be driven by the nonlinearly induced local pressure gradient in the regions of unfavorable curvature of the nonlinearly evolved magnetic field. They could also appear in a realistic RFP geometry and play a role during sawtooth crashes in these machines.

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Research Organization:: Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL)

Sponsoring Organization:: DOE

DOE Contract Number:: AC52-06NA25396

OSTI ID:: 962259

Report Number(s):: LA-UR-08-05922; LA-UR-08-5922

Journal Information:: Physics of Plasmas, Journal Name: Physics of Plasmas; ISSN PHPAEN; ISSN 1070-664X

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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Particle in cell simulations of tearing modes in reversed-field-pinch-like plasma

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References (14)

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