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(THP1/10) Theoretical Studies on the Role of Flows and Currents in the RFP

C. Hegna^{1, 2}, E. Fernandez¹, G. Fiksel¹, P. W. Fontana¹, C. B. Forest¹, R. W. Harvey³, C. Litwin⁴, C. McKay¹, S. C. Prager¹, J. S. Sarff¹, A. P. Smirnov⁵, P. W. Terry¹, E. Uchimoto⁶

¹ Departments of Physics and ² Engineering Physics, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, U. S. A.
³ CompX, Del Mar, CA 92014, U. S. A.
⁴ Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, U. S. A.
⁵ Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
⁶ Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana, 59812, U. S. A.

Abstract.  A number of issues associated with the interaction of plasma flows and currents with plasma fluctuations in RFP plasmas are addressed. Self-consistency arguments on the structure of turbulent mean field forces imply a relaxation behavior for both the current and plasma momentum. Nonlinear tearing mode interaction affect flow profile evolution through the production of localized electromagnetic torques. A model for shear flow generation is presented that drives spontaneous enhanced confinement regimes. A calculation of the tearing mode stability index is presented when a narrow flow shear layer is present in the exterior region. An extensive parameter survey yields an optimization for RFP profile control using lower hybrid waves. Alfvén wave current drive prospects in RFPs are also addressed.

improved confinement

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