We demonstrate theoretically that a toroidal Alfvén eigenmode (TAE) can parametrically decay into a geodesic acoustic mode and kinetic TAE in a toroidal plasma. The corresponding threshold condition for the TAE amplitude is estimated to be |δB/B0|∼O(10-4). Here, δB and B0 are, respectively, the perturbed magnetic field of the pump TAE and the equilibrium magnetic field. This novel decay process, in addition to contributing to the nonlinear saturation of energetic-particle or α-particle driven TAE instability, could also contribute to the heating as well as regulating the transports of thermal plasmas. © 2018 American Physical Society.
Nonlinear Decay and Plasma Heating by a Toroidal Alfvén Eigenmode
Zonca, F.
2018-01-01
Abstract
We demonstrate theoretically that a toroidal Alfvén eigenmode (TAE) can parametrically decay into a geodesic acoustic mode and kinetic TAE in a toroidal plasma. The corresponding threshold condition for the TAE amplitude is estimated to be |δB/B0|∼O(10-4). Here, δB and B0 are, respectively, the perturbed magnetic field of the pump TAE and the equilibrium magnetic field. This novel decay process, in addition to contributing to the nonlinear saturation of energetic-particle or α-particle driven TAE instability, could also contribute to the heating as well as regulating the transports of thermal plasmas. © 2018 American Physical Society.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.