| 1. |
- Tala, T., et al.
(författare)
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Toroidal and poloidal momentum transport studies in tokamaks
- 2007
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Ingår i: Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion. - : IOP Publishing. - 1361-6587 .- 0741-3335. ; 49:12B, s. B291-B302
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The present status of understanding of toroidal and poloidal momentum transport in tokamaks is presented in this paper. Similar energy confinement and momentum confinement times, i.e. tau(E)/tau(phi)approximate to 1 have been reported on several tokamaks. It is more important though, to study the local transport both in the core and edge plasma separately as, for example, in the core plasma, a large scatter in the ratio of the local effective momentum diffusivity to the ion heat diffusivity chi(phi eff)/chi(i.eff) among different tokamaks can be found. For example, the value of effective Prandtl number is typically around chi(phi eff)/chi(i.eff)approximate to 0.2 on JET while still tau(E)/tau(phi)approximate to 1 holds. Perturbative NBI modulation experiments on JET have shown, however, that a Prandtl number chi(phi)/chi(i) of around 1 is valid if there is an additional, significant inward momentum pinch which is required to explain the amplitude and phase behaviour of the momentum perturbation. The experimental results, i.e. the high Prandtl number and pinch, are in good qualitative and to some extent also in quantitative agreement with linear gyro-kinetic simulations. In contrast to the toroidal momentum transport which is clearly anomalous, the poloidal velocity is usually believed to be neo-classical. However, experimental measurements on JET show that the carbon poloidal velocity can be an order of magnitude above the predicted value by the neo-classical theory within the ITB. These large measured poloidal velocities, employed for example in transport simulations, significantly affect the calculated radial electric field and therefore the E x B flow shear and hence modify and can significantly improve the simulation predictions. Several fluid turbulence codes have been used to identify the mechanism driving the poloidal velocity to such high values. CUTIE and TRB turbulence codes and also the Weiland model predict the existence of an anomalous poloidal velocity, peaking in the vicinity of the ITB and driven dominantly by the flow due to the Reynold's stress. It is worth noting that these codes and models treat the equilibrium in a simplified way and this affects the geodesic curvature effects and geodesic acoustic modes. The neo-classical equilibrium is calculated more accurately in the GEM code and the simulations suggest that the spin-up of poloidal velocity is a consequence of the plasma profiles steepening when the ITB grows, following in particular the growth of the toroidal velocity within the ITB.
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| 2. |
- Stockem, Anne, et al.
(författare)
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Suppression of the filamentation instability by a flow-aligned magnetic field : testing the analytic threshold with PIC simulations
- 2008
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Ingår i: Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion. - : IOP Publishing. - 0741-3335 .- 1361-6587. ; 50:2, s. 025002-1-25002-18
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The impact of a flow-aligned and spatially homogeneous magnetic field on the filamentation instability (FI) is examined in a system of two equal counterstreaming non-relativistic cool electron beams. Particle-in-cell simulations that represent the plane perpendicular to the flow velocity vector confirm the reduction of the linear growth rate by the initial magnetic field. The FI is, however, not inhibited by a magnetic field with the critical strength, for which the solution of the linear dispersion relation predicts a full suppression. The saturation of the electromagnetic fields in the plasma involves a balance between the magnetic pressure gradient and the electric field resulting from the charge displacement. The simulations demonstrate that the magnetic energy gain and the field structure upon saturation do not depend on the initial magnetic field strength. This can be explained by the qualitative similarity of the spectrum of unstable wavenumbers, at least for subcritical strengths of the background magnetic field, and by the vanishing of the pressure gradient of a spatially homogeneous magnetic field. Magnetic trapping is apparently not the saturation mechanism for the considered plasma parameters. The spatial power spectrum of the saturated magnetic fields in the simulation plane can be approximated by a power-law function and the magnetic and electric spectra are similar at high wavenumbers. The final electron velocity distributions are comparable for all magnetic field strengths.
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| 3. |
- Blom, Anders, et al.
(författare)
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Parametrization of the Zeeman effect for hydrogen-like spectra in high-temperature plasmas
- 2002
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Ingår i: Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion. - : IOP Publishing. - 0741-3335. ; 44:7, s. 1229-1241
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We present a method for parametrizing the Zeeman effect in hydrogen-like systems in high-temperature plasmas, where the fine-structure is completely unresolved. The method is based on the observation that the different polarization components behave collectively like separate entities, with simple relations. The entire Zeeman pattern can then be reduced to just three components, whose dependence on the magnetic field and the temperature can be described by only three numerical parameters. This makes it possible to include the influence of the Zeeman effect directly into ion temperature diagnostic procedures with minimal increase in the required computational effort and without the need for pre-calculated correction factors. We have tabulated such parametrizations-which are accurate for a wide range of fields and temperatures, even for cases when the total line-shape is no longer Gaussian-for 44 commonly studied hydrogen-like transitions. The effects of non-statistical population distribution in the upper sub-levels are briefly discussed, and we also note a temperature-dependent wavelength shift of the centre positions of the transitions.
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| 4. |
- Brandenburg, Axel
(författare)
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The critical role of magnetic helicity in astrophysical large-scale dynamos
- 2009
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Ingår i: Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion. - : IOP Publishing. - 0741-3335 .- 1361-6587. ; 51:12, s. 4043-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The role of magnetic helicity in astrophysical large-scale dynamos is reviewed and compared with cases where there is no energy supply and an initial magnetic field can only decay. In both cases magnetic energy tends to get redistributed to larger scales. Depending on the efficiency of magnetic helicity fluxes the decay of a helical field can speed up. Likewise, the saturation of a helical dynamo can speed up through magnetic helicity fluxes. The astrophysical importance of these processes is reviewed in the context of the solar dynamo and an estimated upper limit for the magnetic helicity flux of 1046 Mx2/cycle is given.
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| 5. |
- Brunsell, Per, et al.
(författare)
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Active control of multiple resistive wall modes
- 2005
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Ingår i: Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion. - 0741-3335 .- 1361-6587. ; 47:12 B, s. B25-B36
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- A two-dimensional array of saddle coils at M-c poloidal and N-c toroidal positions is used on the EXTRAP T2R reversed-field pinch (Brunsell P R et al 2001 Plasma Phys. Control. Fusion 43 1457) to study active control of resistive wall modes (RWMs). Spontaneous growth of several RWMs with poloidal mode number m = 1 and different toroidal mode number n is observed experimentally, in agreement with linear MHD modelling. The measured plasma response to a controlled coil field and the plasma response computed using the linear circular cylinder MHD model are in quantitive agreement. Feedback control introduces a linear coupling of modes with toroidal mode numbers n, n' that fulfil the condition vertical bar n - n'vertical bar = N-c. Pairs of coupled unstable RWMs are present in feedback experiments with an array of Mc x Nc = 4 x 16 coils. Using intelligent shell feedback, the coupled modes are generally not controlled even though the field is suppressed at the active coils. A better suppression of coupled modes may be achieved in the case of rotating modes by using the mode control feedback scheme with individually set complex gains. In feedback with a larger array of Mc x Nc = 4 x 32 coils, the coupling effect largely disappears, and with this array, the main internal RWMs n = -11, -10, +5, +6 are all simultaneously suppressed throughout the discharge (7-8 wall times). With feedback there is a two-fold extension of the pulse length, compared to discharges without feedback.
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| 6. |
- Catto, Peter J., et al.
(författare)
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A unified treatment of kinetic effects in a tokamak pedestal
- 2011
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Ingår i: Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion. - : IOP Publishing. - 1361-6587 .- 0741-3335. ; 53, s. 054004-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We consider the effects of a finite pedestal radial electric field on ion orbits using a unified approach. We then employ these modified orbit results to retain finite E×B drift departures from flux surfaces in an improved drift-kinetic equation. The procedure allows us to make a clear distinction between transit averages and flux surface averages when solving this kinetic equation. The technique outlined here is intended to clarify and unify recent evaluations of the banana regime decrease and plateau regime alterations in the ion heat diffusivity; the reduction and possible reversal of the poloidal flow in the banana regime, and its augmentation in the plateau regime; the increase in the bootstrap current; and the enhancement of the residual zonal flow regulation of turbulence.
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| 7. |
- Catto, P. J., et al.
(författare)
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Kinetic effects on a tokamak pedestal ion flow, ion heat transport and bootstrap current
- 2013
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Ingår i: Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion. - : IOP Publishing. - 1361-6587 .- 0741-3335. ; 55:4
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We consider the effects of a finite radial electric field on ion orbits in a subsonic pedestal. Using a procedure that makes a clear distinction between a transit average and a flux surface average we are able to solve the kinetic equation to retain the modifications due to finite E X B drift orbit departures from flux surfaces. Our approach properly determines the velocity space localized, as well as the nonlocal, portion of the ion distribution function in the banana and plateau regimes in the small aspect ratio limit. The rapid variation of the poloidal ion flow coefficient and the electrostatic potential in the total energy modify previous banana regime evaluations of the ion flow, the bootstrap current, and the radial ion heat flux in a subsonic pedestal. In the plateau regime, the rapid variation of the poloidal flow coefficient alters earlier results for the ion flow and bootstrap current, while leaving the ion heat flux unchanged since the rapid poloidal variation of the total energy was properly retained.
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| 8. |
- Cecconello, Marco, et al.
(författare)
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Rotation in a reversed field pinch with active feedback stabilization of resistive wall modes
- 2006
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Ingår i: Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion. - : IOP Publishing. - 0741-3335 .- 1361-6587. ; 48:9, s. 1311-1331
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Active feedback stabilization of multiple resistive wall modes (RWMs) has been successfully proven in the EXTRAP T2R reversed field pinch. One of the features of plasma discharges operated with active feedback stabilization, in addition to the prolongation of the plasma discharge, is the sustainment of the plasma rotation. Sustained rotation is observed both for the internally resonant tearing modes (TMs) and the intrinsic impurity oxygen ions. Good quantitative agreement between the toroidal rotation velocities of both is found: the toroidal rotation is characterized by an acceleration phase followed, after one wall time, by a deceleration phase that is slower than in standard discharges. The TMs and the impurity ions rotate in the same poloidal direction with also similar velocities. Poloidal and toroidal velocities have comparable amplitudes and a simple model of their radial profile reproduces the main features of the helical angular phase velocity. RWMs feedback does not qualitatively change the TMs behaviour and typical phenomena such as the dynamo and the `slinky' are still observed. The improved sustainment of the plasma and TMs rotation occurs also when feedback only acts on internally non- resonant RWMs. This may be due to an indirect positive effect, through non- linear coupling between TMs and RWMs, of feedback on the TMs or to a reduced plasma- wall interaction affecting the plasma flow rotation. Electromagnetic torque calculations show that with active feedback stabilization the TMs amplitude remains well below the locking threshold condition for a thick shell. Finally, it is suggested that active feedback stabilization of RWMs and current profile control techniques can be employed simultaneously thus improving both the plasma duration and its confinement properties.
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| 9. |
- Chapman, I.T., et al.
(författare)
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The Effect of Energetic Particles on Resistive Wall Mode Stability in MAST
- 2011
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Ingår i: Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion. - : IOP Publishing. - 1361-6587 .- 0741-3335. ; 53, s. 065022-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Resistive wall mode (RWM) stability limits have been probed by MHD spectroscopy and numerical modelling. MAST plasmas have operated up to βN = 5.7, well above the predicted ideal kink no-wall limit or measured resonant field amplification limits due to a combination of rotation and kinetic damping. By varying the density, both the rotation and the fast ion distribution function have been changed dramatically. Detailed drift-kinetic modelling shows that whilst the contribution of energetic beam ions to RWM damping does increase at sufficiently high plasma rotation as to allow resonance with the fast ion precession frequency, the thermal ion damping always dominates over the fast ion contribution.
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| 10. |
- Connor, J W, et al.
(författare)
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High-m kink/tearing modes in cylindrical geometry
- 2014
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Ingår i: Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion. - : IOP Publishing. - 1361-6587 .- 0741-3335. ; 56:12
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The global ideal kink equation, for cylindrical geometry and zero beta, is simplified in the high poloidal mode number limit and used to determine the tearing stability parameter, Δ'. In the presence of a steep monotonic current gradient, Δ' becomes a function of a parameter, σ0, characterising the ratio of the maximum current gradient to magnetic shear and xs, characterising the separation of the resonant surface from the maximum of the current gradient. In equilibria containing a current 'spike', so that there is a non-monotonic current profile, Δ' also depends on two parameters: κ, related to the ratio of the curvature of the current density at its maximum to the magnetic shear and xs, which now represents the separation of the resonance from the point of maximum current density. The relation of our results to earlier studies of tearing modes and to recent gyrokinetic calculations of current driven instabilities, is discussed, together with potential implications for the stability of the tokamak pedestal.
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