A theoretical investigation of mode-locking phenomena in reversed field pinches
OAK-B135 This paper investigates the formation and breakup of the ''slinky mode'' in an RFP using analytic techniques previously employed to examine mode locking phenomena in tokamaks. The slinky mode is a toroidally localized, coherent interference pattern in the magnetic field which co-rotates with the plasma at the reversal surface. This mode forms, as a result of the nonlinear coupling of multiple m = 1 core tearing modes, via a bifurcation which is similar to that by which toroidally coupled tearing modes lock together in a tokamak. The slinky mode breaks up via a second bifurcation which is similar to that by which toroidally coupled tearing modes in a tokamak unlock. However, the typical m = 1 mode amplitude below which slinky breakup is triggered is much smaller than that above which slinky formation occurs. Analytic expressions for the slinky formation and breakup thresholds are obtained in all regimes of physical interest. The locking of the slinky mode to a static error-field is also investigated analytically. Either the error-field arrests the rotation of the plasma at the reversal surface before the formation of the slinky mode, so that the mode subsequently forms as a non-rotating mode, or the slinky mode forms as a rotating mode and subsequently locks to the error-field. Analytic expressions for the locking and unlocking thresholds are obtained in all regimes of physical interest. The problems associated with a locked slinky mode can be alleviated by canceling out the accidentally produced error-field responsible for locking the slinky mode, using a deliberately created ''control'' error-field. Alternatively, the locking angle of the slinky mode can be swept toroidally by rotating the control field.
- Research Organization:
- Institute for Fusion Studies, Univ. Texas at Austin (US)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Energy Research (ER) (US)
- DOE Contract Number:
- FG03-98ER54504
- OSTI ID:
- 822111
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: PBD: 17 Mar 2004
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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