Published July 10, 2009 | Version v1
Journal article

Energetic-Electron-Driven Instability in the Helically Symmetric Experiment

  • 1. Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095 (United States)
  • 2. Institute for Fusion Studies, University of Texas, Austin, Texas 78712 (United States)
  • 3. Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831 (United States)
  • 4. Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin 53706 (United States)

Description

Energetic electrons generated by electron cyclotron resonance heating are observed to drive instabilities in the quasihelically symmetric stellarator device. The coherent, global fluctuations peak in the plasma core and are measured in the frequency range of 20-120 kHz. Mode propagation is in the diamagnetic drift direction of the driving species. When quasihelical symmetry is broken, the mode is no longer observed. Experimental observations indicate that the unstable mode is acoustic rather than Alfvenic.

Additional details

Publishing Information

Journal Title
Physical Review Letters
Journal Volume
103
Journal Issue
2
Journal Page Range
p. 025003-025003.4
ISSN
0031-9007
CODEN
PRLTAO

INIS

Country of Publication
United States
Country of Input or Organization
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
INIS RN
41078240
Subject category
S70: PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY; S71: CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSICS;
Descriptors DEI
ECR HEATING; INSTABILITY; KHZ RANGE; PLASMA; SYMMETRY; SYMMETRY BREAKING; TAIL ELECTRONS
Descriptors DEC
ELECTRONS; ELEMENTARY PARTICLES; FERMIONS; FREQUENCY RANGE; HEATING; HIGH-FREQUENCY HEATING; LEPTONS; PLASMA HEATING

Optional Information

Notes
(c) 2009 The American Physical Society