Alfvén continuum in the presence of a magnetic island in a cylinder configuration

In this work,the effect of a magnetic island on Alfvén waves is studied.A physical model is established wherein Alfvén waves propagate in the presence of a magnetic island in a cylindrical geometry.The structure of the Alfvén wave continuum is calculated by considering only the coupling caused by the periodicity in the helical angle of the magnetic island.The results show that the magnetic island can induce an upshift in the Alfvén continuum.Moreover,the coupling between different branches of the continuous spectrum becomes more significant with increasing continuum mode numbers near the boundary of the magnetic island.

Large-scale inverted-V channels of upflowing oxygen ions pumped by Alfvén waves

Large-scale inverted-V channels of upflowing oxygen ions are frequently identified in data collected by Cluster,at all local times,near the open-closed field line boundary over Earth’s high-latitude ionosphere-occur with downward propagating MHD Alfvén waves which have cascaded into kinetic regimes of plasma.The transverse acceleration of the oxygen ions in the center of these structures is interpreted as the integrated energization by these waves along the channels.Also observed within the channels are upward parallel electric fields,a key characteristic of kinetic Alfvén waves,which may contribute not only to lifting the ions but also to precipitating aurora electrons that might initiate ion upflow in the ionosphere below.Statistics on five-year observations of Cluster show that the channels typically form during geomagnetic perturbations,particularly when solar-wind dynamic pressure is high or highly fluctuated.Near the open-closed field line boundary,the stronger the wave power,the higher the upward oxygen flux and the higher the beam energy,indicating that these waves provide a simple but efficient way to drive oxygen upflows.

Discrete Alfvén eigenmodes in the CFETR steady-state scenario

The stability features of discrete Alfvén eigenmodes(αTAEs) trapped by α-induced potential wells are explored in the China Fusion Engineering Test Reactor(CFETR) advanced steady-state operation environment, where α denotes a measure of the pressure gradient. For the reversed magnetic shear(RS) H-mode scenario with an enhanced internal transport barrier(ITB), the αTAEs are trapped in the electron cyclotron(EC) power deposition region and the effects of different pedestals on αTAEs are analyzed. For the negative off-axis magnetic shear scenario, the αTAEs are discussed, and the effect of different magnetic shears on the α TAEs is presented. Finally, the effects of beam energies and pitch-angle distributions onαTAE stability are also presented.

扭转Alfvén波共振的数学描述

提出完备正交函数基(OFSE)展开方法,求解冕环中无耗散扭转Alfvn波。每个基函数对应冕环中每根磁力线的一个固有角频率ω_n,当冕环足点驱动频率等于磁力线的固有频率时,Alfvn波将在这根磁力线处发生共振。采用OFSE方法求解了双足点驱动时冕环Alfvn波的时变演化问题,给出了时变解析解的新形式,其中包含共振项,从共振项可以发现,在共振角频率为ω的共振磁力线附近,在时间t为π/ω的整数倍时,出现δ型间断;在t为π/(2ω)的奇数倍时,出现1/x间断。共振磁力线振幅随时间线性增加,增加的斜率正比于Alfvn波速,反比于冕环长度,与驱动频率无关。

惯性区低-β等离子体中的动力学Alfvén孤波

运用双流体MHD方程描述电子和离子的行为 ,采用非扰动理论 ,把孤子看作经典粒子 ,通过推导的赝势 (也称Sagdeev势 )方程 ,结合数值计算来研究惯性区低 - β等离子体中动力学Alfv啨ｎ孤波的特性 .结果表明离子热效应对Alfv啨ｎ孤波特性的影响不可忽略 ,且在惯性区稀疏型孤波和压缩型孤波均存在 .此结论与Freja卫星在极区上空所观测结果吻合很好 .Alfv啨ｎ孤波携带有平行电场 ,它对带电粒子的加速有重要作用 ,这给极光粒子加速提供了一种可能的物理机制 .

低频Alfvén波谱与冷等离子体的非共振作用研究

本文讨论了低频率Alfvén波谱与冷等离子体的非线性相互作用。研究表明,对于多个低频Alfvén波,在波的振幅相对于背景磁场较小时,随着时间的增加,粒子动理学温度的各向异性会降低;随着振幅的增加,平行方向的动理学温度不断升高,且在A2=0.1处,平行方向的动理学温度将超过垂直方向的动理学温度。

低频Alfvén波对等离子体非共振加热与随机加热的粒子模拟

采用粒子模拟方法,研究沿背景磁场方向传播的低频Alfvén波对磁化等离子体加热的物理过程.模拟结果表明:离子在垂直和平行于背景磁场的方向都得到明显的加热,在非共振加热阶段,垂直方向比平行方向的加热效果更加显著,形成温度各向异性;在随机加热阶段,垂直和平行方向的温度最终达到饱和且趋于一致.加热过程中,离子所获得动力学温度的最大值由外加磁场能量密度与等离子体密度的比值决定,与Alfvén波的频率及振幅无关;离子在平行于背景磁场方向上被加速,并最终获得相当于Alfvén波相速度大小的流速.

低频Alfvén波多波相干加热粒子模拟

采用粒子模拟方法,考察多支沿背景磁场方向传播的低频Alfvén波对磁化等离子体的加热过程,研究不同频率的多支低频Alfvén波相干加热.结果表明可以通过调整波的频率比实现对非共振加热过程和随机加热过程这两个阶段的强化.符合相干共振条件的多波加热会强化低频Alfvén波对粒子拾取,进而强化非共振加热,明显提高加热效率.在多波加热的过程中,如果多支波之间的频率差足够小,则多波在调制过程中会形成波包.波包的出现标志着粒子各向异性的强化,从而提升随机加热效率.

Nonlinear simulation of multiple toroidal Alfvén eigenmodes in tokamak plasmas

Nonlinear evolution of multiple toroidal Alfvén eigenmodes(TAEs)driven by fast ions is self-consistently investigated by kinetic simulations in toroidal plasmas.To clearly identify the effect of nonlinear coupling on the beam ion loss,simulations over single-n modes are also carried out and compared with those over multiple-n modes,and the wave-particle resonance and particle trajectory of lost ions in phase space are analyzed in detail.It is found that in the multiple-n case,the resonance overlap occurs so that the fast ion loss level is rather higher than the sum loss level that represents the summation of loss over all single-n modes in the single-n case.Moreover,increasing fast ion betaβh can not only significantly increase the loss level in the multiple-n case but also significantly increase the loss level increment between the single-n and multiple-n cases.For example,the loss level in the multiple-n case forβh=6.0%can even reach 13%of the beam ions and is 44%higher than the sum loss level calculated from all individual single-n modes in the single-n case.On the other hand,when the closely spaced resonance overlap occurs in the multiple-n case,the release of mode energy is increased so that the widely spaced resonances can also take place.In addition,phase space characterization is obtained in both single-n and multiple-n cases.

Spatial Measurement on the Evidence of Ionospheric Alfvén Resonator

Using the data of ULF/ELF electric and magnetic wave field measured on board AUREOL\|3 satellite, by the high resolution spectral analyses, one obtained for the first time the spatial measurement on the evidence of ionospheric alfvén resonator. The result of the measurement indicates that there are 7.8 Hz for fundamental frequency ,14 Hz for second resonant frequency in the electric field component, and also the spectral resonance structure, but not in the magnetic vertical component for the magnetic field components.

Numerical simulation of the multiple reversed shear Alfvén eigenmodes associated with the triangularity Alfvén gap

It was found that there are multiplicity of low shear toroidicity-induced Alfv′en eigenmodes in a zero beta limit if the inverse aspect ratio is larger than the magnetic shear at the mode location(Candy 1996 Phys. Lett. A 215 299). Because the reversed shear Alfv′en eigenmode(RSAE) and even the RSAE associated with the non-circular triangularity-induced Alfv′en eigenmode(NAE) gap(NAE–RSAE) usually reside near the shear-reversal point, the condition that the inverse aspect ratio is larger than the magnetic shear is naturally satisfied. For this reason, we numerically investigate the existence of multiplicity of core-localized NAE–RSAEs and mode characteristics in the present work. We firstly verify the existence of the multiplicity for zero beta plasma by using a D-shaped equilibrium. It is pointed out that, for a given toroidal mode number, the Alfv′en cascade spectrum accommodates down-sweeping and up-sweeping modes above and below the NAE range of frequencies. An analytical model for the existence of multiple RSAE modes is in good agreement with the simulation results. One notices that the triangularity has a greater effect on the odd-type modes than that on the even-type modes: the odd-type modes come into existence because of the plasma triangularity.

Alfvén eigenmode stability analysis and energetic particle transport prediction for CFETR hybrid scenario

The hybrid scenario is a projection for CFETR operation with high plasma current and density.Therefore, the energetic particles(EPs) generated by fusion reactions can destabilize Alfvén eigenmodes(AEs), which could result in significant EPs loss and redistribution. Both the eigenvalue code NOVA-K and the wrapped local stability code TGLFEP are used to analyze AE stability. The simulation indicates the beta-induced Alfvén eigenmodes with n?>?5 in the core region are the most unstable. The NOVA-K code is used to benchmark the critical density gradient calculated by TGLFEP. In addition, the EPtran code is employed to predict EP transport induced by unstable AEs and turbulence, which reduce EP density in the core and drive approximately 30% EP transport from the core to the edge, thus the EP density profile flattens and EPs with lower energy deposit near the edge.

Transition from fishbone mode toβ-induced Alfvén eigenmode on HL-2A tokamak

In the presence of energetic particles(EPs)from auxiliary heating and burning plasmas,fishbone instability and Alfvén modes can be excited and their transition can take place in certain overlapping regimes.Using the hybrid kinetic-magnetohydrodynamic model in the NIMROD code,we have identified such a transition between the fishbone instability and theβ-induced Alfvén eigenmode(BAE)for the NBI heated plasmas on HL-2 A.When the safety factor at magnetic axis is well below one,typical kink-fishbone transition occurs as the EP fraction increases.When q0 is raised to approaching one,the fishbone mode is replaced with BAE for sufficient amount of EPs.When q0 is slightly above one,the toroidicity-induced Alfvén eigenmode dominates at lower EP pressure,whereas BAE dominates at higher EP pressure.

低频左旋和右旋Alfvén波加热Kappa分布离子的研究

为了研究非热平衡态下Alfvén波与离子之间相互作用,采用试探粒子模拟的方法,研究低频单支左旋与右旋Alfvén波对Kappa分布离子的加热效果。结果表明:当越小,垂直加热效果越不显著,加热后温度趋于各向同性,左旋波与右旋波加热效果趋于一致;当增大时,在垂直方向加热效果明显提升,呈现各向异性,左旋提升速度快于右旋;当时,加热效果最好且温度异性最大,对于频率为0.1倍回旋频率的Alfvén波,垂直方向温度左旋比右旋约高出22%,左旋温度异性比右旋约高出23%。

A simulation study of protons heated by left/right-handed Alfvén waves generated by electromagnetic proton-proton instability

Most protons in the solar wind belong to one of two different populations,the less dense beam protons and the denser core protons.The beam protons,with a velocity of(1-2)V_(A)(V_(A)is the local Alfvén speed),always drift relative to the core protons;this kind of distribution is unstable and stimulates several kinds of wave mode.In this study,using a 2 D hybrid simulation model,we find that the original right-handed elliptically polarized Alfvén waves become linearly polarized,and eventually become right-handed and circularly polarized.Given that linearly polarized waves are a superposition of left-handed and right-handed waves,cyclotron resonance in the right-handed/left-handed component heats beam/core protons perpendicularly.The resonance between beam protons and right-handed polarized waves is stronger when the beam relative density is lower,resulting in more dramatic perpendicular heating of beam protons,whereas the situation is reversed when the beam relative density is larger.

低频Alfvén波与等离子体的非共振相互作用

采用单粒子模型,对两支左旋极化低频Alfvén波与等离子体的非共振相互作用进行粒子模拟,讨论了三种不同波幅时垂直与平行方向的加热效果,在非共振加热阶段,加热效果与波幅有关,波幅越大效果越好;而经过随机加热后,粒子动力学温度的最大值仅由外加磁场的能量密度与等离子体密度的比值决定与Alfvén波幅无关.加热过程中,离子被加速最终获得一个相当于Alfvén波相速度大小的流速.

Preliminary computation of the gap eigenmode of shear Alfvén waves on the LAPD

Characterizing the gap eigenmode of shear Alfv′en waves(SAWs) and its interaction with energetic ions is important to the success of magnetically confined fusion. Previous studies have reported an experimental observation of the spectral gap of SAW on the on Large Plasma Device(LAPD)(Zhang et al. 2008 Phys. Plasmas 15 012103), a linear large plasma device(Gekelman et al. 1991 Rev. Sci. Instrum. 62 2875) possessing easier diagnostic access and lower cost compared with traditional fusion devices, and analytical theory and numerical gap eigenmode using ideal conditions(Chang 2014 Ph.D Thesis at Australian National University). To guide experimental implementation, the present work models the gap eigenmode of SAWs using exact LAPD parameters. A full picture of the wave field for previous experiment reveals that the previously observed spectral gap is not global but an axially local result. To form a global spectral gap, the number of magnetic mirrors has to be increased and stronger static magnetic field makes it clearer. Such a spectral gap is obtained for the magnetic field of B_0(z) = 1.2 + 0.6 cos[2π(z-33.68)/3.63] with 7.74-m magnetic beach. By introducing two types of local defects(corresponding to E_θ(z_0) = 0 and E'_θ(z_0) = 0 respectively), odd-parity and even-parity discrete eigenmodes are formed clearly inside the gap. The strength of these gap eigenmodes decreases significantly with collision frequency, which is consistent with previous studies. Parameter scans show that these gap eigenmodes can be even formed successfully for the field strength of B_0(z) = 0.2 + 0.1 cos[2π(z-33.68)/3.63] and with only four magnetic mirrors, which are achievable by the LAPD at its present status. This work can serve as a strong motivation and direct reference for the experimental implementation of the gap eigenmode of SAWs on the LAPD and other linear plasma devices.

Study of nonlinear mode–mode couplings between Alfvénic modes by the Fourier bicoherence and Lissajous-curve technique in HL-2A

Nonlinear couplings of various Alfvén modes driven by energetic particles in HL-2 A are addressed by employing the Fourier bicoherence and Lissajous-curve technique. Long-lived modes and high-frequency coherent modes are presented. Then the squared bicoherence of three waves establishes the existence of three-wave coupling. Lissajous-curves of those waves manifest that their phases are locked, which again confirms that they are nonlinearly coupled to each other. Moreover, coupled modes triggered by supersonic molecular beam injection are investigated. The phase evolution of them is given by the Lissajous-curve. Further details of phase-flip and phase-slip are presented and discussed.

Effects of Heavy Ions on Kinetic Alfvén Waves

Kinetic Alfven Wave (KAW) is one of the low-frequency electromagnetic fluctuations that are identified extensively in space plasmas by in situ observations of satellites and has been an interesting topic for discussion widely in the fields of laboratory, space, and astrophysical plasmas because of its potential importance in plasma particle energization. Some satellite observations show that the number density ratio of the oxygen ions to the ambient plasma is 30% ～ 50%, sometimes, even as high as 80%. In this paper, effects of heavy ion species on KAWs are studied in a Iow-beta plasma. The results show that heavy ions not only considerably reduce the propagation speed of KAWs, but also remarkably influence the parallel component of perturbed electric field of KAWs (to the ambient magnetic field). The ratio of parallel to perpendicular components of perturbed field decreases (or increases) with the heavyion abundance for KAWs dominated by the electron inertial length (or by ion acoustic gyroradius). In particular, the resonant condition of KAWs with thermal electrons is modified by the heavy ion species.