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Title: Existence of three-dimensional ideal-magnetohydrodynamic equilibria with current sheets

Abstract

We consider the linear and nonlinear ideal plasma response to a boundary perturbation in a screw pinch. We demonstrate that three-dimensional, ideal-MHD equilibria with continuously nested flux-surfaces and with discontinuous rotational-transform across the resonant rational-surfaces are well defined and can be computed both perturbatively and using fully nonlinear equilibrium calculations. This rescues the possibility of constructing MHD equilibria with current sheets and continuous, smooth pressure profiles. The results predict that, even if the plasma acts as a perfectly conducting fluid, a resonant magnetic perturbation can penetrate all the way into the center of a tokamak without being shielded at the resonant surface.

Authors:
 [1]; ; ;  [2];  [1]
  1. Max-Planck-Institut für Plasmaphysik, D-17491 Greifswald (Germany)
  2. Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, PO Box 451, Princeton, New Jersey 08543 (United States)
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
22490117
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Physics of Plasmas
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 22; Journal Issue: 9; Other Information: (c) 2015 EURATOM; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); Journal ID: ISSN 1070-664X
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY; CURRENTS; DISTURBANCES; EQUILIBRIUM; MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMICS; MODE RATIONAL SURFACES; NONLINEAR PROBLEMS; PLASMA; ROTATIONAL TRANSFORM; SCREW PINCH; SURFACES; THREE-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS; TOKAMAK DEVICES

Citation Formats

Loizu, J., Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, PO Box 451, Princeton, New Jersey 08543, Hudson, S. R., Bhattacharjee, A., Lazerson, S., and Helander, P. Existence of three-dimensional ideal-magnetohydrodynamic equilibria with current sheets. United States: N. p., 2015. Web. doi:10.1063/1.4931094.
Loizu, J., Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, PO Box 451, Princeton, New Jersey 08543, Hudson, S. R., Bhattacharjee, A., Lazerson, S., & Helander, P. Existence of three-dimensional ideal-magnetohydrodynamic equilibria with current sheets. United States. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4931094
Loizu, J., Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, PO Box 451, Princeton, New Jersey 08543, Hudson, S. R., Bhattacharjee, A., Lazerson, S., and Helander, P. 2015. "Existence of three-dimensional ideal-magnetohydrodynamic equilibria with current sheets". United States. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4931094.
@article{osti_22490117,
title = {Existence of three-dimensional ideal-magnetohydrodynamic equilibria with current sheets},
author = {Loizu, J. and Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, PO Box 451, Princeton, New Jersey 08543 and Hudson, S. R. and Bhattacharjee, A. and Lazerson, S. and Helander, P.},
abstractNote = {We consider the linear and nonlinear ideal plasma response to a boundary perturbation in a screw pinch. We demonstrate that three-dimensional, ideal-MHD equilibria with continuously nested flux-surfaces and with discontinuous rotational-transform across the resonant rational-surfaces are well defined and can be computed both perturbatively and using fully nonlinear equilibrium calculations. This rescues the possibility of constructing MHD equilibria with current sheets and continuous, smooth pressure profiles. The results predict that, even if the plasma acts as a perfectly conducting fluid, a resonant magnetic perturbation can penetrate all the way into the center of a tokamak without being shielded at the resonant surface.},
doi = {10.1063/1.4931094},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/22490117}, journal = {Physics of Plasmas},
issn = {1070-664X},
number = 9,
volume = 22,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Sep 15 00:00:00 EDT 2015},
month = {Tue Sep 15 00:00:00 EDT 2015}
}