Return To: Session THP2 - Theory 2 (Transport)
Prev Page: (THP2/22) Kinetic-Magnetohydrodynamic Simulation Study of Fast Ions and
Next Page: (THP2/24) Stability Analysis of Energetic Ion Alfvén Mode

(THP2/23) Global Alfvén Eigenmodes Stability in Thermonuclear Tokamak Plasmas

A. Jaun¹, A. Fasoli²³, J. Vaclavik⁴, L. Villard⁴

¹ Alfvén Laboratory, EURATOM-NFR Association, KTH, Stockholm, Sweden
² Plasma Science and Fusion Center, MIT, Cambridge MA, USA
³ JET Joint Undertaking, Abingdon, Oxfordshire OX14 3EA, United Kingdom
⁴ CRPP, Association EURATOM-Confédération Suisse, EPFL, Switzerland

Abstract.  Relying on the good agreement observed between the gyrokinetic PENN model and the low n damping measurements from JET, the stability of Alfvén eigenmodes (AE) is here predicted for reactor relevant conditions. Full non-local wave-particle power transfers are computed for the $\alpha$-particles in an ITER reference equilibrium, showing that low n $\simeq$ 2 modes are strongly damped and intermediate n $\simeq$ 12 with a global radial extension are stable with a damping rate $\gamma$/$\omega$ $\simeq$ 0.02. Even though an excitation of $\alpha$-particle driven instabilities remains in principle possible, this study suggests that realistic operation scenarii exist where all the AEs of global character are stable.

Read the full paper in PDF format.