A general solution of the ripple-averaged kinetic equation (GSRAKE)

A general solution of the ripple-averaged kinetic equation, GSRAKE, is presented and results are obtained for the simple model magnetic field of a stellarator. No assumptions are made as to the relative sizes of the collision frequency, ν, and poloidal precessional frequency, Ω, so that the solution is valid throughout the entire long-mean-free-path regime. The solution treats both localized and non-localized particles and the boundary conditions fully account for the interaction between these two classes of particles. All drift terms present within the framework of the ripple-averaged theory are included, in particular, for localized particles Ω = ΩE+Ω∇ B and the ΩE = 0 limits. A comparison of the results is also undertaken with those of the FLOCS code. GSRAKE results are in good agreement with those obtained from FLOCS and require only a tiny fraction of the computer time necessary for the latter code. (author) refs., 2 figs