Extended Magnetohydrodynamics Model Research Articles

Modification of the magneto-hydrodynamic equilibrium by the lower-hybrid wave driven fast electrons on the TST-2 spherical tokamak

Presence of a large population of fast particles may qualitatively modify the tokamak equilibrium from the one that can be described by standard magneto-hydrodynamics (MHD). The kinetic modification of the MHD equilibrium was studied for a lower-hybrid (LH) wave driven plasma on the TST-2 spherical tokamak. The analysis was performed using an equilibrium reconstruction method based on an extended MHD model that considers a two-component plasma of bulk MHD fluid and kinetic fast electrons. Scrape-off-layer current appeared naturally in the extended MHD analysis because of the finite electron orbit excursion from the flux surfaces. This reduced the bulk pressure contribution to the toroidal current substantially. The resulting poloidal flux profile was more consistent with that inferred from the Thomson scattering measurement.

Benchmarking NIMROD continuum kinetic formulations through the steady-state poloidal flow

In this work, continuum kinetic formulations are employed as a mechanism to include closure physics in an extended magnetohydrodynamics model. Two continuum kinetic approaches have been implemented in the plasma fluid code NIMROD [Sovinec et al., “Nonlinear magnetohydrodynamics with high-order finite elements,” J. Comput. Phys. 195, 355 (2004)] including a Chapman–Enskog-like (CEL) formulation and a more conventional δf approach. Ion kinetic closure schemes are employed to describe the neoclassical flow properties in axisymmetric toroidal geometry. In particular, predictions for steady-state values of poloidal flow profiles in tokamak geometry are provided using both the δf formulation and two different solution techniques for the CEL approach. These results are benchmarked against analytic theory predictions as well as results from the drift kinetic code DK4D. The continuum kinetic formulations employed here show agreement with both the analytic theory and DK4D results, and offer a novel velocity space representation involving higher-order finite elements in pitch angle.

Direction of cascades in a magnetofluid model with electron skin depth and ion sound Larmor radius scales

The direction of cascades in a two-dimensional model that takes electron inertia and ion sound Larmor radius into account is studied, resulting in analytical expressions for the absolute equilibrium states of the energy and helicities. These states suggest that typically both the energy and magnetic helicity at scales shorter than the electron skin depth have a direct cascade, while at large scales the helicity has an inverse cascade as established earlier for reduced magnetohydrodynamics (MHD). The calculations imply that the introduction of gyro-effects allows for the existence of negative temperature (conjugate to energy) states and the condensation of energy to the large scales. Comparisons between two- and three-dimensional extended MHD models (MHD with two-fluid effects) show qualitative agreement between the two.

Magnetohydrodynamic motion of a two-fluid plasma

The two-fluid Maxwell system couples frictionless electrons and ion fluids via Maxwell's equations. When the frequencies of light waves, Langmuir waves, and single-particle cyclotron motion are scaled to be asymptotically large, the two-fluid Maxwell system becomes a fast-slow dynamical system. This fast-slow system admits a formally exact single-fluid closure that may be computed systematically with any desired order of accuracy through the use of a functional partial differential equation. In the leading order approximation, the closure reproduces magnetohydrodynamics (MHD). Higher order truncations of the closure give an infinite hierarchy of extended MHD models that allow for arbitrary mass ratio, as well as perturbative deviations from charge neutrality. The closure is interpreted geometrically as an invariant slow manifold in the infinite-dimensional two-fluid phase space, on which two-fluid motions are free of high-frequency oscillations. This perspective shows that the full closure inherits a Hamiltonian structure from the two-fluid theory. By employing infinite-dimensional Lie transforms, the Poisson bracket for the all-order closure may be obtained in the closed form. Thus, conservative truncations of the single-fluid closure may be obtained by simply truncating the single-fluid Hamiltonian. Moreover, the closed-form expression for the all-order bracket gives explicit expressions for a number of the full closure's conservation laws. Notably, the full closure, as well as any of its Hamiltonian truncations, admits a pair of independent circulation invariants.

Extended MHD modeling of tearing-driven magnetic relaxation

Discrete relaxation events in reversed-field pinch relevant configurations are investigated numerically with nonlinear extended magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) modeling, including the Hall term in Ohm's law and first-order ion finite Larmor radius effects. Results show variability among relaxation events, where the Hall dynamo effect may help or impede the MHD dynamo effect in relaxing the parallel current density profile. The competitive behavior arises from multi-helicity conditions where the dominant magnetic fluctuation is relatively small. The resulting changes in parallel current density and parallel flow are aligned in the core, consistent with experimental observations. The analysis of simulation results also confirms that the force density from fluctuation-induced Reynolds stress arises subsequent to the drive from the fluctuation-induced Lorentz force density. Transport of the momentum density is found to be dominated by the fluctuation-induced Maxwell stress over most of the cross section with viscous and gyroviscous contributions being large in the edge region. The findings resolve a discrepancy with respect to the relative orientation of current density and flow relaxation, which had not been realized or investigated in King et al. [Phys. Plasmas 19, 055905 (2012)], where only the magnitude of flow relaxation is actually consistent with experimental results.

Nonlinear helicons bearing multi-scale structures

The helicon waves exhibit varying characters depending on plasma parameters, geometry, and wave numbers. Here, we elucidate an intrinsic multi-scale property embodied by the combination of the dispersive effect and nonlinearity. The extended magnetohydrodynamics model (exMHD) is capable of describing a wide range of parameter space. By using the underlying Hamiltonian structure of exMHD, we construct an exact nonlinear solution, which turns out to be a combination of two distinct modes, the helicon and Trivelpiece-Gould (TG) waves. In the regime of relatively low frequency or high density, however, the combination is made of the TG mode and an ion cyclotron wave (slow wave). The energy partition between these modes is determined by the helicities carried by the wave fields.

Concomitant Hamiltonian and topological structures of extended magnetohydrodynamics

The paper describes the unique geometric properties of ideal magnetohydrodynamics (MHD), and demonstrates how such features are inherited by extended MHD, viz. models that incorporate two-fluid effects (the Hall term and electron inertia). The generalized helicities, and other geometric expressions for these models are presented in a topological context, emphasizing their universal facets. Some of the results presented include: the generalized Kelvin circulation theorems; the existence of two Lie-dragged 2-forms; and two concomitant helicities that can be studied via the Jones polynomial, which is widely utilized in Chern–Simons theory. The ensuing commonality is traced to the existence of an underlying Hamiltonian structure for all the extended MHD models, exemplified by the presence of a unique noncanonical Poisson bracket, and its associated energy.

Nonlinear Alfvén waves in extended magnetohydrodynamics

Large-amplitude Alfvén waves are observed in various systems in space and laboratories, demonstrating an interesting property that the wave shapes are stable even in the nonlinear regime. The ideal magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) model predicts that an Alfvén wave keeps an arbitrary shape constant when it propagates on a homogeneous ambient magnetic field. However, such arbitrariness is an artifact of the idealized model that omits the dispersive effects. Only special wave forms, consisting of two component sinusoidal functions, can maintain the shape; we derive fully nonlinear Alfvén waves by an extended MHD model that includes both the Hall and electron inertia effects. Interestingly, these “small-scale effects” change the picture completely; the large-scale component of the wave cannot be independent of the small scale component, and the coexistence of them forbids the large scale component to have a free wave form. This is a manifestation of the nonlinearity-dispersion interplay, which is somewhat different from that of solitons.

Evolution of accretion discs around a kerr black hole using extended magnetohydrodynamics

Black holes accreting well below the Eddington rate are believed to have geometrically thick, optically thin, rotationally supported accretion discs in which the Coulomb mean free path is large compared to $GM/c^2$. In such an environment, the disc evolution may differ significantly from ideal magnetohydrodynamic predictions. We present non-ideal global axisymmetric simulations of geometrically thick discs around a rotating black hole. The simulations are carried out using a new code ${\rm\it grim}$, which evolves a covariant extended magnetohydrodynamics model derived by treating non-ideal effects as a perturbation of ideal magnetohydrodynamics. Non-ideal effects are modeled through heat conduction along magnetic field lines, and a difference between the pressure parallel and perpendicular to the field lines. The model relies on an effective collisionality in the disc from wave-particle scattering and velocity-space (mirror and firehose) instabilities. We find that the pressure anisotropy grows to match the magnetic pressure, at which point it saturates due to the mirror instability. The pressure anisotropy produces outward angular momentum transport with a magnitude comparable to that of MHD turbulence in the disc, and a significant increase in the temperature in the wall of the jet. We also find that, at least in our axisymmetric simulations, conduction has a small effect on the disc evolution because (1) the heat flux is constrained to be parallel to the field and the field is close to perpendicular to temperature gradients, and (2) the heat flux is choked by an increase in effective collisionality associated with the mirror instability.

Remarkable connections between extended magnetohydrodynamics models

Through the use of suitable variable transformations, the commonality of all extended magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) models is established. Remarkable correspondences between the Poisson brackets of inertialess Hall MHD and inertial MHD (which has electron inertia, but not the Hall drift) and extended MHD (which has both effects) are established. The helicities (two in all) for each of these models are obtained through these correspondences. The commonality of all the extended MHD models is traced to the existence of two Lie-dragged 2-forms, which are closely associated with the canonical momenta of the two underlying species. The Lie-dragging of these 2-forms by suitable velocities also leads to the correct equations of motion. The Hall MHD Poisson bracket is analyzed in detail, the Jacobi identity is verified through a detailed proof, and this proof ensures the Jacobi identity for the Poisson brackets of all the models.

Comparison of kinetic and extended magnetohydrodynamics computational models for the linear ion temperature gradient instability in slab geometry

We perform linear stability studies of the ion temperature gradient (ITG) instability in unsheared slab geometry using kinetic and extended magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) models, in the regime k∥/k⊥≪1. The ITG is a parallel (to B) sound wave that may be destabilized by finite ion Larmor radius (FLR) effects in the presence of a gradient in the equilibrium ion temperature. The ITG is stable in both ideal and resistive MHD; for a given temperature scale length LTi0, instability requires that either k⊥ρi or ρi/LTi0 be sufficiently large. Kinetic models capture FLR effects to all orders in either parameter. In the extended MHD model, these effects are captured only to lowest order by means of the Braginskii ion gyro-viscous stress tensor and the ion diamagnetic heat flux. We present the linear electrostatic dispersion relations for the ITG for both kinetic Vlasov and extended MHD (two-fluid) models in the local approximation. In the low frequency fluid regime, these reduce to the same cubic equation for the complex eigenvalue ω=ωr+iγ. An explicit solution is derived for the growth rate and real frequency in this regime. These are found to depend on a single non-dimensional parameter. We also compute the eigenvalues and the eigenfunctions with the extended MHD code NIMROD, and a hybrid kinetic δf code that assumes six-dimensional Vlasov ions and isothermal fluid electrons, as functions of k⊥ρi and ρi/LTi0 using a spatially dependent equilibrium. These solutions are compared with each other, and with the predictions of the local kinetic and fluid dispersion relations. Kinetic and fluid calculations agree well at and near the marginal stability point, but diverge as k⊥ρi or ρi/LTi0 increases. There is good qualitative agreement between the models for the shape of the unstable global eigenfunction for LTi0/ρi=30 and 20. The results quantify how far fluid calculations can be extended accurately into the kinetic regime. We conclude that for the linear ITG problem in slab geometry with unsheared magnetic field when k∥/k⊥≪1, the extended MHD model may be a reliable physical model for this problem when ρi/LTi0<10−2 and k⊥ρi<0.2.

Strong Nonlinear Effects in the Dynamics of Tearing Modes Controlled by Electron Cyclotron Current Drive

The 2-D time-dependent response of a tearing mode magnetic island to a radio frequency (RF)-driven current may lead to strong nonlinear effects. An extended magnetohydrodynamics model shows first the prompt appearance of current sheets tending to shield the RF current effect and, subsequently, a nonlinear filamentation of the island structure that eventually proceeds in the coalescence of secondary islands.

Hall magnetohydrodynamics simulations of end-shorting induced rotation in field-reversed configurations

End-shorting of the open field lines that surround a field-reversed configuration (FRC) is believed to contribute to its observed rotation. In this study, nonlinear extended magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) simulations were performed that detail the end-shorting process and the resulting spin-up of the FRC. The tangential component of the electric field ET is set to zero at the axial boundaries in an extended MHD model that includes the Hall and ∇Pe terms. This shorting of the electric field leads to the generation of toroidal fields on the open field lines, which apply a torque leading to a rotation of the ions on the open field lines. The FRC then gains angular momentum through a viscous transfer from the open field line region. In addition, it is shown that spin-up is still induced when insulating boundaries are assumed.

Plasmas beyond MHD: two-fluids and symmetry breaking

Extended MHD effects are important in the nonlinear behavior of magnetically confined plasmas, even at the simplest level represented by the self-consistent diamagnetic (B × ∇p) drifts. Allowing the electrons and ions to move independently, even as fluids, breaks certain geometrical symmetries preserved by the MHD equations that can be important for toroidal fusion burning plasmas. These symmetries are also broken by certain experimental designs and high temperature plasma conditions. Results are shown from the two-fluid and hybrid particle/fluid models in the M3D MPP code, part of the SciDAC CEMM (Center for Extended Magnetohydrodynamic Modeling) project.