Published April 2013 | Version v1
Journal article

Nonlinear dynamics of multiple neoclassical tearing modes in tokamaks

  • 1. Institute for Plasma Research, Bhat, Gandhinagar 382428 (India)
  • 2. France-Japan Magnetic Fusion Lab, LIA 336, CNRS/Lab PIIM, UMR 6633, CNRS-Universite de Provence, 13397 Marseille (France)
  • 3. Association Euratom-CEA, DRFC, CEA Cadarache, 13108 St-Paul-Lez-Durance (France)

Description

Numerical simulations investigating the interaction of co-existent 2/1 and 3/1 neoclassical tearing modes are presented. The results obtained from an initial value 3D toroidal code that solves a set of generalized reduced MHD equations exhibit a host of complex phenomena arising from the coupling of the two modes. These include a modification of the island saturation widths of the two modes, a significant modification in the perpendicular flow patterns in the vicinity of the islands, and the excitation of geodesic acoustic mode like oscillations that lead to concomitant oscillations in the kinetic and magnetic energies of the islands. These oscillations only occur in the presence of the neoclassical stress tensor contribution and are absent for two coupled classical tearing modes.

Additional details

Identifiers

Publishing Information

Journal Title
Physics of Plasmas
Journal Volume
20
Journal Issue
4
Journal Page Range
p. 042505-042505.8
ISSN
1070-664X
CODEN
PHPAEN

Optional Information

Notes
(c) 2013 American Institute of Physics