Plasma and Fusion Research

Volume 3, 048 (2008)

Regular Articles

Formation and Long Term Evolution of an Externally Driven Magnetic Island in Rotating Plasmas
Yasutomo ISHII and Andrei SMOLYAKOV1)
Japan Atomic Energy Agency, Ibaraki 311-0102, Japan
1)
University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon SK S7N 5E2, Canada
(Received 27 December 2007 / Accepted 29 May 2008 / Published 20 August 2008)

Abstract

Alfven resonance effects on the evolution of a magnetic island driven by an externally applied perturbation are investigated for rotating plasmas. The simulation results show the importance of Alfven resonance for obtaining a perturbed current profile and estimating a critical value of the external perturbation, beyond which the magnetic island grows rapidly. The nonlinear evolution of the externally driven magnetic island is also investigated at low and high viscosities ν. It is shown that the transition phase accompanying the secondary reconnection at the initial X-point in the driven magnetic island evolution occurs in low resistivity and viscosity plasmas.

Keywords

plasma rotation, magnetic island, secondary reconnection, Alfven resonance

DOI: 10.1585/pfr.3.048

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This paper may be cited as follows:

Yasutomo ISHII and Andrei SMOLYAKOV, Plasma Fusion Res. 3, 048 (2008).