Abstract

The MHD equilibrium properties of neutral beam heated plasmas have been experimentally investigated in the Compact Helical System (CHS)-a low aspect ratio (Ap ~ 5) heliotron/torsatron. This configuration is characterized by a strong breaking of helical symmetry. The radial profiles measured by various diagnostics have shown a significant Shafranov shift due to the plasma pressure. The deviation of the magnetic axis from is vacuum position has become as large as 50% of the minor radius. When the three-dimensional equilibrium code VMEC is used to reconstruct the equilibrium from the experimental data, the result is in good agreement with the experimentally observed Shafranov shift as well as with the diamagnetic pressure in plasmas with ⟨β⟩ ⩽ 1.2% and β0 ⩽ 3.3%. This beta values corresponds to half of the conventional equilibrium β limit defined by the Shafranov shift reaching a value of half of the minor radius. Although tangential neutral beam injection causes pressure anisotropies, p||/p⊥ ⩽ 3, the description of the equilibrium assuming isotropic pressure is consistent with the experiment

Full Text
Paper version not known

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call

Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.