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New Alfven continuum gaps and global modes induced by toroidal flow
van Der Holst B1, Belien, Goedbloed
1FOM-Institute for Plasma Physics, Association Euratom-FOM, P.O. Box 1207, 3430 BE Nieuwegein, The Netherlands.
Physical Review Letters
|October 6, 2000
Summary
Toroidal rotation in tokamaks creates new low-frequency Alfven gaps and global modes. These flow-induced phenomena offer potential for magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) spectroscopy and impact plasma stability.
Area of Science:
- Plasma Physics
- Fusion Energy Research
- Magnetohydrodynamics (MHD)
Background:
- Tokamaks utilize toroidal rotation, which influences plasma behavior.
- Linear perturbations in rotating plasmas are subject to Coriolis and centrifugal forces.
- Alfven frequency gaps are crucial for understanding plasma wave phenomena.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate continuous magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) spectra in tokamaks with toroidal rotation.
- To identify and characterize new global eigenmodes within flow-induced Alfven frequency gaps.
- To explore the potential of these new modes for MHD spectroscopy and their implications for plasma stability.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of linear perturbations in the corotating frame of a tokamak.
- Identification of Alfven frequency gaps created by centrifugal effects on rational surfaces.
- Localization of new global eigenmodes within these newly discovered gaps.
Main Results:
- Centrifugal effects in rotating tokamaks generate novel Alfven frequency gaps.
- New global eigenmodes are found to exist within these flow-induced gaps.
- These newly identified gaps and modes operate in the low-frequency range.
Conclusions:
- The study reveals new flow-induced Alfven gaps and global modes in rotating tokamaks.
- These phenomena are suitable for advanced MHD spectroscopy techniques.
- The low-frequency nature of these modes has significant implications for plasma stability in fusion devices.