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approvedebrahimi_sherwood2016.pdf2016-02-15 14:27:08Fatima Ebrahimi

Abstracts

Author: Fatima Ebrahimi
Requested Type: Pre-Selected Invited
Submitted: 2016-02-14 23:03:25

Co-authors: R. Raman

Contact Info:
Princeton University
C Site T 152 MS-28, PPPL, PO B
Princeton, NJ   08543
USA

Abstract Text:
Magnetic reconnection is essential for formation of closed flux surfaces and start-up plasma current in transient Coaxial Helicity Injection (CHI). Here, we explore fundamental reconnection physics, in particular reconnecting plasmoids physics, in resistive MHD simulations of transient CHI. We report two major findings: 1) formation of an elongated Sweet-Parker (S-P) current sheet and a transition to plasmoid instability has for the first time been demonstrated by simulations of CHI experiments in a large-scale toroidal fusion plasma in the absence of any pre-existing instability [F. Ebrahimi and R.Raman, PRL 114, 205003 (2015)] and 2) a large-volume flux closure, and large fraction conversion of injected open flux to closed flux, in the NSTX-U geometry has also now been demonstrated for the first time. Simulations have been performed using the extended MHD NIMROD code in a realistic geometry with a toroidal guide field and using experimental NSTX poloidal coil currents. It is found that as the helicity and plasma are injected into the device, the oppositely directed field lines in the injector region are (a) forced to reconnect through a local S-P type reconnection or (b) spontaneously reconnect when the elongated current sheet becomes MHD unstable. Consistent with the theory, fundamental characteristics of the plasmoid instability, including fast reconnection rate, have been observed in these realistic simulations. Motivated by the simulations, experimental camera images have been revisited and suggest the existence of reconnecting plasmoids in NSTX. As a result of the improved location of injector flux and shaping coils in NSTX-U, the simulations also show that the volume of flux closure is large and nearly all of the CHI-generated current is closed-flux current. It is found that the closed flux is over 70% of the initial injector flux used to initiate the discharge. Work supported by DOE-FG02-12ER55115.

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