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MHD instabilities in tokamaks

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Abstract

A general introduction to ideal magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) stability of tokamak plasmas is given, using linear perturbations of the ideal MHD equations. Subsequently the Energy Principle for ideal MHD instabilities is derived. The specific instabilities which are then discussed are loosely divided into two categories. Under the name "current driven instabilities", external and internal kink modes, which are modes with a large radial extent, are discussed. The internal m = 1 kink mode is responsible for sawtooth collapses and fishbone oscillations in tokamaks. Under the header "pressure driven instabilities", more localized modes are presented. These modes may limit the pressure gradient in the plasma without causing sizeable disruptions. The ballooning limit and the Mercier criterion are presented. The Troyon limit is mentioned as a synthesis of several of these stability boundaries.

Year of Publication
2008
Journal
Fusion Science and Technology
Volume
53
Number
2T
Number of Pages
122-134
Date Published
Feb
Type of Article
Article
ISBN Number
1536-1055
Accession Number
ISI:000253871700015
URL
PId
9ef21fd91bdafd9a7f0b57781dca89af
Alternate Journal
Fusion Sci. Technol.
Journal Article
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