Ion Heating by Fast Particle Induced Alfvin Turbulence

Gates, D. ; Gorelenkov, N. ; White, and R.B.

Princeton University. Plasma Physics Laboratory.

关键词: Modifications;    Nstx Device;    Excitation;    70 Plasma Physics And Fusion Technology;    Ignition;   

DOI  :  10.2172/786534
RP-ID  :  PPPL-3572
RP-ID  :  AC02-76CH03073
RP-ID  :  786534

美国|英语

来源: UNT Digital Library

【 摘 要 】

A novel mechanism that directly transfers energy from Super-Alfvenic energetic ions to thermal ions in high-beta plasmas is described. The mechanism involves the excitation of compressional Alfvin eigenmodes (CAEs) in the frequency range with omega less than or approximately equal to omega(subscript ci). The broadband turbulence resulting from the large number of excited modes causes stochastic diffusion in velocity space, which transfers wave energy to thermal ions. This effect may be important on the National Spherical Torus Experiment (NSTX), and may scale up to reactor scenarios. This has important implications for low aspect ratio reactor concepts, since it potentially allows for the modification of the ignition criterion.