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PUBLICATIONS

Elimination of MHD current sheets by modifications to the plasma wall in a fixed boundary model

Published

Author(s)

Geoffrey B. McFadden, Eugenia Kim, Antoine Cerfon

Abstract

Models of magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) equilibia that for computational convenience assume the existence of a system of nested magnetic flux surfaces tend to exhibit singular current sheets that are located on resonant flux surfaces that are associated with rational values of the rotational transform. We study the possibility of eliminating these singularities by suitable modifications of the plasma boundary, which we prescribe in a fixed boundary setting. We find that relatively straightforward iterative procedures can be used to eliminate weak current sheets that are generated at resonant flux surfaces by the nonlinear interactions of resonating wall harmonics. These types of procedures may prove useful in the design of fusion devices with configurations that enjoy improved stability and transport properties.
Citation
Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion
Volume
62
Pub Type
Journals

Download Paper

https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-6587/ab6d48
Local Download

Keywords

magnetohydrodynamic equilibria, nested flux surfaces, singular current sheets, rational rotational transform, nonlinear mode coupling
Modeling and simulation research

Citation

McFadden, G. , Kim, E. and Cerfon, A. (2020), Elimination of MHD current sheets by modifications to the plasma wall in a fixed boundary model, Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion, [online], https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-6587/ab6d48 (Accessed October 10, 2025)

Issues

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Created February 26, 2020, Updated May 18, 2020
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