ABSTRACT
Multiple resonances in the edge-localized mode (ELM) frequency (f(ELM)) as a function of the edge safety factor q(95) have been observed for the first time with an applied low n (=1,2) field on the JET tokamak. Without an n=1 field applied, f(ELM) increases slightly from 20 to 30 Hz by varying the q(95) from 4 to 5 in a type-I ELMy H-mode plasma. However, with an n=1 field applied, a strong increase in f(ELM) by a factor of 4-5 has been observed with resonant q(95) values, while the f(ELM) increased only by a factor of 2 for nonresonant values. A model, which assumes that the ELM width is determined by a localized relaxation triggered by an unstable ideal external peeling mode, can qualitatively predict the observed resonances when low n fields are applied.
ABSTRACT
Large tokamaks capable of fusion power production such as ITER, should avoid large edge localized modes (ELMs), thought to be triggered by an ideal magnetohydrodynamic instability due to current at the plasma's separatrix boundary. Unlike analytical work in a cylindrical approximation, numerical work finds the modes are stable. The plasma's separatrix might stabilize modes, but makes analytical and numerical work difficult. We generalize a cylindrical model to toroidal separatrix geometry, finding one parameter Delta' determines stability. The conformal transformation method is generalized to allow nonzero derivatives of a function on a boundary, and calculation of the equilibrium vacuum field allows Delta' to be found analytically. As a boundary more closely approximates a separatrix, we find the energy principle indicates instability, but the growth rate asymptotes to zero.
ABSTRACT
Edge-localized modes (ELMs) are cyclic disturbances in the outer region of tokamak plasmas that are influential in determining present and future tokamak performance. In this Letter, we outline an approach to modeling ELMs in which we envisage toroidal peeling modes initiating a Taylor relaxation [Phys. Rev. Lett. 33, 1139 (1974)10.1103/PhysRevLett.33.1139] of a tokamak outer region plasma. Relaxation produces a peeling destabilizing flattened edge current profile and a stabilizing plasma-vacuum current sheet; the balance between the two determines the radial extent of the relaxed region. The model can be used to predict the energy losses due to an ELM and reproduces experimentally observed variations with edge safety factor and plasma collisionality. There is an intrinsic "deterministic scatter" in the model that also accords with observation.
ABSTRACT
Spontaneous acceleration of ions to suprathermal energies is observed during magnetic reconnection in the Mega-Ampere Spherical Tokamak (MAST). A high-energy tail is observed in the ion-distribution function following each internal reconnection event in Ohmic discharges. This phenomenon is explained in terms of runaway ion acceleration in the electric field induced by the reconnection.
