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Title: Stable compression of a spherical tokamak plasma

Journal Article · · Nuclear Fusion

In this study, an analysis of toroidal plasma compression by a collapsing flux conserver reveals linearly stable scenarios of operation to high compression ratios. The resistive and ideal MHD stability is calculated in full toroidal geometry using the asymptotic matching method in realistic conditions. A time dependent MHD simulation of the compression is conducted to confirm the conservation principles used to calculate the equilibrium states for the analysis. The near edge current profile, controlled by toroidal field ramping during compression, is shown to be critical to stability due to coupling between poloidal components of the least stable mode. Two cases with slight differences in edge current are examined, one with a stable corridor to high compression and one without.

Research Organization:
Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL), Princeton, NJ (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
Grant/Contract Number:
AC02-09CH11466
OSTI ID:
1650654
Journal Information:
Nuclear Fusion, Vol. 60, Issue 4; ISSN 0029-5515
Publisher:
IOP ScienceCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 5 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

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