Transport Reduction by Current Profile Control in the Reversed-field Pinch

J. S. Sarff, A. F. Almagri, M. Cekic, C. -S. Chaing, D. Craig, D. J. Den Hartog, G. Fiksel, S. A. Hokin, R. W. Harvey, H. Ji, C. Litwin, S.c. Prager, D. Sinitsyn, C. R. Sovinec, J. C. Sprott, and E. Uchimoto
Department of Physics, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin 53706
(Received 21 November 1994; accepted 28 February 1995)

ABSTRACT

An auxiliary poloidal inductive electric field applied to a reversed-field pinch (RFP) plasma reduces the current density gradient, slows the growth of m=1 tearing fluctuations, suppresses their associated sawteeth, and doubles the energy confinement time.  This experiment attacks the dominant RFP plasma loss mechanism of parallel streaming in a stochastic magnetic field.  The auxiliary electric field flattens the current profile and reduces the magnetic fluctuation level.  Since a toroidal flux change linking the plasma is required to generate the inductive poloidal electric field, the current drive is transient to avoid excessive perturbation of the equilibrium.  To sustain and enhance the improved state, noninductive current drivers are being developed.  A novel electrostatic current drive scheme uses a plasma source for electron injection, and the lower-hybrid wave is a good candidate for radio-frequency current drive.

Ref: J. S. Sarff, A. F. Almagri, M. Cekic, C. -S. Chaing, D. Craig, D. J. Den Hartog, G. Fiksel, S. A. Hokin, R. W. Harvey, H. Ji, C. Litwin, S.c. Prager, D. Sinitsyn, C. R. Sovinec, J. C. Sprott, and E. Uchimoto, Phys. Plasmas 2, 2440-2446 (1995)

The complete paper is available in PDF format.

Return to Sprott's Books and Publications.