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Driven, steady-state RFP computations

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 March 2009

J. P. Dahlburg ,
D. Montgomery ,
G. D. Doolen  and
L. Turner
J. P. Dahlburg
Affiliation:
Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire 03755, U.S.A.
D. Montgomery
Affiliation:
Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire 03755, U.S.A.
G. D. Doolen
Affiliation:
Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545, U.S.A.
L. Turner
Affiliation:
Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545, U.S.A.
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Abstract

A previously described pseudospectral three-dimensional MHD code is used to compute the dynamical behaviour of a channel of magnetofluid carrying an axial current and magnetic flux. This situation contains the essential MHD behaviour of the reversed-field-pinch (RFP). An externally imposed electric field is applied to an initially current-free magnetofluid, and drives currents that rise and eventually fluctuate about values corresponding to pinch ratios Θ ≈ 1·3, 2·2 and 4·5. A period of violent turbulence leads to an approximately force-free core, surrounded by an active MHD boundary layer that is not force-free. A steady state is reached that can apparently be sustained indefinitely (≥several hundred Alfvén transit times). The turbulence level and time variability in the steady state increase with increasing Θ. The average toroidal magnetic field at the wall reverses for the Θ ≈ 2·2 and 4·5 runs, but not for the Θ ≈ 1·3 one. Negative toroidal current filaments are observed. The Lundquist numbers are of the order of a few hundred.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Plasma Physics , Volume 40 , Issue 1 , August 1988 , pp. 39 - 68
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1988

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