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Alfvén-wave heating in resistive MHD

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 March 2009

Stefaan Poedts
Affiliation:
Astronomisch Instituut, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200B, B-3030 Heverlee, Belgium
Wolfgang Kerner
Affiliation:
Max-Planck-Institut für Plasmaphysik, Euratom Association, Boltzmannstrasse 2, D-8046 Garching bei München, Federal Republic of Germany
Marcel Goossens
Affiliation:
Astronomisch Instituut, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200B, B-3030 Heverlee, Belgium

Abstract

Resonant absorption of Alfvén waves in tokamak plasmas is studied numerically using the linearized equations of resistive magnetohydrodynamics. A numerical code based on a finite-element discretization is used for determining the stationary state of a cylindrical plasma column that is excited by an external periodic driver. The energy dissipation rate in the stationary state is calculated and the dependence of the plasma heating on electrical resistivity, the equilibrium profiles, and the wavenumbers and frequency of the external driver is investigated. Resonant absorption is extremely efficient when the plasma is excited with a frequency near that of a so-called ‘collective mode’. The heating of a plasma by driving it at the frequencies of discrete Alfvén waves is also investigated.

Information

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1989

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