We derive the balance equation for the Favre averaged angular momentum in toroidal not necessarily axisymmetric magnetic field equilibria. We find that the components of angular momentum are given by the covariant poloidal and toroidal components of ExB and parallel flow velocities and we separately identify all relevant stress tensors, torques and source terms for each of these components. Our results feature the Favre stress generalisations of previously found Reynolds stresses like the diamagnetic or parallel ExB stress, as well as the density gradient drive term. Further, we identify the magnetic shear as a source of poloidal ExB angular momentum and discuss the mirror and the Lorentz force. Here, we find that the geodesic transfer term, the Stringer-Winsor spin-up term and the ion-orbit loss term are all part of the Lorentz force and are in fact one and the same term.
Discussing the relation to angular velocity we build the inertia tensor with the help of the first fundamental form of a flux-surface. In turn, the inertia tensor is used to construct a flux-surface averaged rotational energy for \ExB surface flows of the plasma. The evolution of this rotational energy features a correction of previous results due to the inertia tensor. In particular, this correction suggests that density sources on the high-field side contribute much more to zonal flow energy generation than on the low field side.
This paper deals with the design of the stellarator field with the simple coil set. In order to realize the stellarator field by the simple coil set, the tilted toroidal field coil uses for creating the rotational transform. Sixteen tilted TF coils create the small radial field and large vertical field. With reducing the vertical field of the tilted toroidal field coil by the axisymmetric poloidal field coil, the stellarator field can be made. The formation of clear and nested flux surfaces is confirmed, and the rotational transform is proportional to the tilting angle of the toroidal field co…
In a new toroidal laboratory plasma device including a poloidal magnetic field created by an internal circular conductor, the confinement efficiency of the magnetized plasma and the turbulence level are studied in different situations. The plasma density is greatly enhanced when a sufficient poloidal magnetic field is established. Moreover, the instabilities and the turbulence usually found in toroidal devices without shear of the magnetic field lines are suppressed when the rotational transform is present. The measurement of the plasma decay time allows to determine the confinement time of th…
The compensation of vertical drifts in toroidal magnetic fields through a wave-driven poloidal rotation is compared to compensation through the wave driven toroidal current generation to support the classical magnetic rotational transform. The advantages and drawbacks associated with the sustainment of a radial electric field are compared with those associated with the sustainment of a poloidal magnetic field both in terms of energy content and power dissipation. The energy content of a radial electric field is found to be smaller than the energy content of a poloidal magnetic field for a simi…
The core collapse events observed in a stellarator experiment are studied by a three-dimensional nonlinear MHD simulations. In the low magnetic shear configuration like the Wendelstein 7-X, the rotational transform profile is very sensitive to the toroidal current density. The 3D equilibrium with localized toroidal current density is studied. If the toroidal current density follows locally in the middle of the plasma minor radius, the rotational transform is also changed locally. Sometimes, the magnetic topology changes due to appearing the magnetic island. The nonlinear behaviors of the MHD i…
The vanishing of the divergence of the total stress tensor (magnetic plus kinetic) in a neighborhood of an equilibrium plasma containing a toroidal surface of discontinuity gives boundary and jump conditions that strongly constrain allowable continuations of the magnetic field across the surface. The boundary conditions allow the magnetic fields on either side of the discontinuity surface to be described by surface magnetic potentials, reducing the continuation problem to that of solving a Hamilton--Jacobi equation. The characteristics of this equation obey Hamiltonian equations of motion, and…
A direct construction of equilibrium magnetic fields with toroidal topology at arbitrary order in the distance from the magnetic axis is carried out, yielding an analytical framework able to explore the landscape of possible magnetic flux surfaces in the vicinity of the axis. This framework can provide meaningful analytical insight on the character of high-aspect-ratio stellarator shapes, such as the dependence of the rotational transform and the plasma beta-limit on geometrical properties of the resulting flux surfaces. The approach developed here is based on an asymptotic expansion on the in…
It is shown that the magnetic-field coils of a stellarator can, at least in principle, be substantially simplified by the use of permanent magnets. Such magnets cannot create toroidal magnetic flux but they can be used to shape the plasma and thus to create poloidal flux and rotational transform, thereby easing the requirements on the magnetic-field coils. As an example, a quasiaxisymmetric stellarator configuration is constructed with only 8 circular coils (all identical) and permanent magnets.
We study the resistive evolution of a localized self-organizing magnetohydrodynamic equilibrium. In this configuration the magnetic forces are balanced by a pressure force caused by a toroidal depression in the pressure. Equilibrium is attained when this low pressure region prevents further expansion into the higher-pressure external plasma. We find that, for the parameters investigated, the resistive evolution of the structures follows a universal pattern when rescaled to resistive time. The finite resistivity causes both a decrease in the magnetic field strength and a finite slip of the plas…
Quasisymmetry is an unusual symmetry that can be present in toroidal magnetic fields, enabling confinement of charged particles and plasma. Here it is shown that both quasi-axisymmetry and quasi-helical symmetry can be achieved to a much higher precision than previously thought over a significant volume, resulting in exceptional confinement. For a 1 Tesla mean field far from axisymmetry (vacuum rotational transform $>$ 0.4), symmetry-breaking mode amplitudes throughout a volume of aspect ratio 6 can be made as small as the typical $\sim 50$ $μ$T geomagnetic field.
The problem of finding an optimal curve for the target magnetic axis of a stellarator is addressed. Euler-Lagrange equations are derived for finite length three-dimensional curves that extremise their bending energy while yielding fixed integrated torsion. The obvious translational and rotational symmetry is exploited to express solutions in a preferred cylindrical coordinate system in terms of elliptic Jacobi functions. These solution curves, which, up to similarity transformations, depend on three dimensionless parameters, do not necessarily close. Two closure conditions are obtained for the…
We provide a synthesis model demonstrating the "fast dynamo" action of the Sun. The latter is essentially accomplished via two toroidal structures presumably formed in the tachocline and placed symmetrically with respect to the equatorial plane. The two tori are characterized by several prominent key-properties as follows: First, in each "Torus" a surplus charge is entrapped for the time period of an 11-year sunspot cycle; for the next cycle the charge changes sign. Second, the net charge of Torus, moving with the solar rotational speed (U), generates a huge toroidal current which, in turn, bu…
