Self-organized Stationary States of Tokamaks

Authors:   S.C. Jardin,  N. Ferraro,  and I. Krebs

Abstract:  We demonstrate that in a 3D resistive magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) simulation, for some parameters it is possible to form a stationary state in a tokamak where a saturated interchange mode in the center of the discharge drives a near helical flow pattern that acts to non-linearly sustain the configuration by adjusting the central loop voltage through a dynamo action. This could explain the physical mechanism for maintaining stationary non-sawtoothing "hybrid" discharges, often referred to as "flux-pumping".

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Submitted to:  Physical Review Letters
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Download PPPL-5198 (pdf 2.4 MB 8 pp)
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