Formation of current singularity in a topologically constrained plasma
[1];
- Princeton Plasma Physics Lab. (PPPL), Princeton, NJ (United States); Princeton Univ., NJ (United States). Dept. of Astrophysical Sciences
- Princeton Plasma Physics Lab. (PPPL), Princeton, NJ (United States); Princeton Univ., NJ (United States). Dept. of Astrophysical Sciences; Univ Sci & Technol China, Dept Modern Phys, Hefei 230026, Anhui, Peoples R China.
Recently a variational integrator for ideal magnetohydrodynamics in Lagrangian labeling has been developed. Its built-in frozen-in equation makes it optimal for studying current sheet formation. We use this scheme to study the Hahm-Kulsrud-Taylor problem, which considers the response of a 2D plasma magnetized by a sheared field under sinusoidal boundary forcing. We obtain an equilibrium solution that preserves the magnetic topology of the initial field exactly, with a fluid mapping that is non-differentiable. Unlike previous studies that examine the current density output, we identify a singular current sheet from the fluid mapping. These results are benchmarked with a constrained Grad-Shafranov solver. The same signature of current singularity can be found in other cases with more complex magnetic topologies.
- Research Organization:
- Princeton Plasma Physics Lab. (PPPL), Princeton, NJ (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC02-09CH11466
- OSTI ID:
- 1256344
- Report Number(s):
- PPPL-5193; PLEEE8
- Journal Information:
- Physical Review E, Vol. 93, Issue 2; ISSN 2470-0045
- Publisher:
- American Physical Society (APS)
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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