Kinetic stabilization of tilt disruption in field reversed configurations

The process of kinetic stabilization of the tilt disruption in a field reversed configuration is investigated by means of a three dimensional particle simulation. For the case of no ion beam the growth rate of the tilt instability decreases as the plasma β value at the magnetic separatrix, βsp, increases. This stabilization effect originates from the 'anchoring ions' which exist in the vicinity of the magnetic separatrix and act as an 'anchor' to hold the internal plasma to the external plasma. The tilt mode is also found to be stabilized by injecting an ion beam with about 20% of the ion thermal energy in the vicinity of the null point even for small βsp plasmas. (author)