The equations describing the continuous spectrum of shear Alfvén and ion sound waves propagating along magnetic field lines are introduced and solved in the ballooning space for general geometry in the ideal MHD limit. This approach is equivalent to earlier analyses by Chu et al. 1992 [Phys. Fluids B 4, 3713 (1992)], but the present formulation in the ballooning space allows us to readily extend it to include gyrokinetic and three-dimensional equilibrium effects. In particular, following Chen and Zonca 2017 [Phys. Plasmas 24, 072511 (2017)], the MHD limit is adopted to illustrate the general methodology in a simple case, and the equations are solved within the framework of Floquet and Hill's equation theory. The connection of shear Alfvén and ion sound wave continuum structures to the generalized plasma inertia in the general fishbonelike dispersion relation is also illustrated and discussed. As an application, the continuous frequency spectrum is calculated for a reference equilibrium of the Divertor Tokamak Test facility. The results are compared with those obtained by the MARS code adopting the standard methodology, demonstrating excellent agreement.

Shear Alfvén and acoustic continuum in general axisymmetric toroidal geometry

Falessi M. V.;Fusco V.;Vlad G.;Zonca F.
2019-01-01

Abstract

The equations describing the continuous spectrum of shear Alfvén and ion sound waves propagating along magnetic field lines are introduced and solved in the ballooning space for general geometry in the ideal MHD limit. This approach is equivalent to earlier analyses by Chu et al. 1992 [Phys. Fluids B 4, 3713 (1992)], but the present formulation in the ballooning space allows us to readily extend it to include gyrokinetic and three-dimensional equilibrium effects. In particular, following Chen and Zonca 2017 [Phys. Plasmas 24, 072511 (2017)], the MHD limit is adopted to illustrate the general methodology in a simple case, and the equations are solved within the framework of Floquet and Hill's equation theory. The connection of shear Alfvén and ion sound wave continuum structures to the generalized plasma inertia in the general fishbonelike dispersion relation is also illustrated and discussed. As an application, the continuous frequency spectrum is calculated for a reference equilibrium of the Divertor Tokamak Test facility. The results are compared with those obtained by the MARS code adopting the standard methodology, demonstrating excellent agreement.
File in questo prodotto:
Non ci sono file associati a questo prodotto.

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12079/52233
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? ND
  • Scopus 19
social impact