Marginal states of the resistive tearing mode with flow in cylindrical geometry

Abstract

The linear stability of tearing modes in a cylindrical plasma subject to a sub-Alfvénic equilibrium shear flow along the equilibrium magnetic field is considered. The equations in the resistive boundary layer at the rational surface are solved numerically using a Fourier transform combined with a finite-element approach. The behaviour of the growth rate as a function of the flow and the various parameters (including a perpendicular fluid viscosity) is obtained. Marginal stability curves showing the dependence of the familiar matching parameter with flow and shear are also given.