Summary: theory of magnetic confinement

Abstract

This article summarizes the papers that are related to the theory of magnetic confinement plasmas.

Experimental Study of Nonlinear Processes in Edge Turbulence of Toroidal Plasmas

“…For the combination of f 3 = 15 kHz, the biphase is weakly dependent on the frequency of the coupled mode ( f 1 ) for f 1 > 60 kHz. The reason for this weak dependence on f 1 has not yet been identified. (A conjecture is that it may owe to the finite gyro-radius effect and other effects, which are not taken into account in the reduced set of equations.…”

“…A normalized electrostatic potential, φ = (eφ/T e )L n /ρ s , is introduced, whereφ is the electrostatic potential fluctuation, ρ s is the ion gyro-radius at electron temperature, and L n is the density gradient scale length. (The normalized variable φ is of the order unity in stationary drift wave turbulence [1].) The one-field model (the Hasegawa-Mima model with the screening effect for the zonal flow component [5]) gives the response of drift wave in the presence of zonal flow (pure zonal flow or GAMs) [22].…”

“…Progress in turbulence theory has revealed essential features of nonlinear interactions between meso-scale structures and strong turbulence [1][2][3][4]. Recent progress has highlighted the importance of zonal flows in drift wave turbulence [5,6].…”

Magnetic confinement theory summary

“…A key issue for steady-state operation is stabilization of RWMs at high β. A validated model for rotation damping in the MARS code has been used by Liu [88] to calculate the toroidal rotation, ω, needed to stabilize the n = 1 RWM for a range of equilibria, yielding ω ∝ 1/q 2 95 . Applying the model to ITER, he found ω ≈ (1.5-3%)ω A (where ω A is the Alfvén velocity) is needed.…”

“…To describe progress in theory since the previous conference in Lyon, 2002 [2], it is helpful to place it in the context of certain 'key questions' that need to be answered for the successful development of fusion power. These are:…”