Published January 13, 2006 | Version v1
Journal article

Onset and Saturation of the Kink Instability in a Current-Carrying Line-Tied Plasma

  • 1. Department of Physics, University of Wisconsin, 1150 University Avenue, Madison, WI 53706 (United States)

Description

An internal kink instability is observed to grow and saturate in a line-tied screw pinch plasma. Detailed measurements show that an ideal, line-tied kink mode begins growing when the safety factor q=(4π2r2Bz/μ0Ip(r)L) drops below 1 inside the plasma; the saturated state corresponds to a rotating helical equilibrium. In addition to the ideal mode, reconnection events are observed to periodically flatten the current profile and change the magnetic topology

Additional details

Publishing Information

Journal Title
Physical Review Letters
Journal Volume
96
Journal Issue
1
Journal Page Range
p. 015004-015004.4
ISSN
0031-9007
CODEN
PRLTAO

INIS

Country of Publication
United States
Country of Input or Organization
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
INIS RN
37078590
Subject category
S70: PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY;
Descriptors DEI
EQUILIBRIUM; KINK INSTABILITY; MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMICS; PERIODICITY; PLASMA; SATURATION; SCREW PINCH; TOPOLOGY
Descriptors DEC
FLUID MECHANICS; HYDRODYNAMICS; INSTABILITY; MATHEMATICS; MECHANICS; PINCH EFFECT; PLASMA INSTABILITY; PLASMA MACROINSTABILITIES; VARIATIONS

Optional Information

Notes
(c) 2006 The American Physical Society