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Title: The effect of plasma flow on line-tied magnetohydrodynamic modes

Abstract

The linear stability of a linear pinch to kink modes with line-tying boundary conditions and equilibrium axial flow is studied. Numerical results in visco-resistive magnetohydrodynamics show that for long plasmas, in which the line-tying stabilization effect is weak, plasma flow is stabilizing. For shorter plasmas, near the length at which line-tying stabilizes the mode for zero flow, the flow can be destabilizing. A simple model using reduced ideal magnetohydrodynamics with a step-function current density and an even simpler one-dimensional sound wave model with equilibrium flow elucidate these effects. It is concluded that: (1) The stabilization in long plasmas is due to convective stabilization; (2) the destabilization for short plasmas can be explained using a picture involving the coupling of two stable waves, one propagating in the forward direction and one in the backward direction; and (3) strong magnetic shear suppresses the flow destabilization for short plasmas.

Authors:
 [1]; ;  [2]
  1. Dipartimento di Energetica, Politecnico di Torino, 10129 Torino (Italy)
  2. T-5, Applied Mathematics and Plasma Physics Group, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545 (United States)
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
21378015
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Physics of Plasmas
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 17; Journal Issue: 6; Other Information: DOI: 10.1063/1.3418317; (c) 2010 American Institute of Physics; Journal ID: ISSN 1070-664X
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY; BOUNDARY CONDITIONS; COUPLING; CURRENT DENSITY; EQUILIBRIUM; HYDROMAGNETIC WAVES; ION ACOUSTIC WAVES; KINK INSTABILITY; MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMICS; PLASMA; SOUND WAVES; STABILIZATION; FLUID MECHANICS; HYDRODYNAMICS; INSTABILITY; ION WAVES; MECHANICS; PLASMA INSTABILITY; PLASMA MACROINSTABILITIES; PLASMA WAVES

Citation Formats

Arcudi, Francesco, Delzanno, Gian Luca, and Finn, John M. The effect of plasma flow on line-tied magnetohydrodynamic modes. United States: N. p., 2010. Web. doi:10.1063/1.3418317.
Arcudi, Francesco, Delzanno, Gian Luca, & Finn, John M. The effect of plasma flow on line-tied magnetohydrodynamic modes. United States. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3418317
Arcudi, Francesco, Delzanno, Gian Luca, and Finn, John M. 2010. "The effect of plasma flow on line-tied magnetohydrodynamic modes". United States. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3418317.
@article{osti_21378015,
title = {The effect of plasma flow on line-tied magnetohydrodynamic modes},
author = {Arcudi, Francesco and Delzanno, Gian Luca and Finn, John M},
abstractNote = {The linear stability of a linear pinch to kink modes with line-tying boundary conditions and equilibrium axial flow is studied. Numerical results in visco-resistive magnetohydrodynamics show that for long plasmas, in which the line-tying stabilization effect is weak, plasma flow is stabilizing. For shorter plasmas, near the length at which line-tying stabilizes the mode for zero flow, the flow can be destabilizing. A simple model using reduced ideal magnetohydrodynamics with a step-function current density and an even simpler one-dimensional sound wave model with equilibrium flow elucidate these effects. It is concluded that: (1) The stabilization in long plasmas is due to convective stabilization; (2) the destabilization for short plasmas can be explained using a picture involving the coupling of two stable waves, one propagating in the forward direction and one in the backward direction; and (3) strong magnetic shear suppresses the flow destabilization for short plasmas.},
doi = {10.1063/1.3418317},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/21378015}, journal = {Physics of Plasmas},
issn = {1070-664X},
number = 6,
volume = 17,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Jun 15 00:00:00 EDT 2010},
month = {Tue Jun 15 00:00:00 EDT 2010}
}