MHD stability properties of bean-shaped tokamaks

Technical Report · Thu Mar 01 00:00:00 EST 1984

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/7129521· OSTI ID:7129521

Grimm, R C; Chance, M S; Todd, A M.M.; Manickam, J; Okabayashi, M; Tang, W M; Dewar, R L; Fishman, H; Mendelsohn, S L; Monticello, D A

A study of the MHD stability properties of bean-shaped tokamak plasmas is presented. For ballooning modes, while increased indentation gives larger ..beta.. stable configurations, the existence and accessibility of the second stable region is sensitive to the pressure and safety factor profiles. The second stable region appears at lower ..beta.. values for large aspect ratio and moderately high q-values. Finite-Larmor-radius (FLR) kinetic effects can significantly improve the stability properties. For low q (< 1) operation, long wavelength (n approx. 2,3) internal pressure driven modes occur at modest ..beta../sub p/ values and accessibility to higher ..beta.. operation is unlikely. Indentation modifies the nature of the usually vertical axisymmetric instability, but the mode can be passively stabilized by placing highly conducting plates near to the tips of the plasma bean. At constant q, indentation has a stabilizing effect on tearing modes.

• Research Organization: Princeton Plasma Physics Lab. (PPPL), Princeton, NJ (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-76CH03073
• OSTI ID: 7129521
• Report Number(s): PPPL-2090; ON: DE84010753
• Resource Relation: Other Information: Portions are illegible in microfiche products. Original copy available until stock is exhausted
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
PLASMA MACROINSTABILITIES
STABILIZATION
TOKAMAK DEVICES
ASPECT RATIO
BALLOONING INSTABILITY
BETA RATIO
GEOMETRY
LARMOR RADIUS
Q-VALUE
TEARING INSTABILITY
CLOSED PLASMA DEVICES
ENERGY
INSTABILITY
MATHEMATICS
PLASMA INSTABILITY
THERMONUCLEAR DEVICES
700107* - Fusion Energy- Plasma Research- Instabilities