Observation of Plasma Toroidal-Momentum Dissipation by Neoclassical Toroidal Viscosity

2006200 citationsJournal Article

Authors

W. Zhu · Columbia University

S.A. Sabbagh · Columbia University

R. E. Bell · Princeton University

J. Bialek · Columbia University

Michael G.H. Bell · Princeton University

B.P. LeBlanc · Princeton University

S. Kaye · Princeton University

Abstract

Dissipation of plasma toroidal angular momentum is observed in the National Spherical Torus Experiment due to applied nonaxisymmetric magnetic fields and their plasma-induced increase by resonant field amplification and resistive wall mode destabilization. The measured decrease of the plasma toroidal angular momentum profile is compared to calculations of nonresonant drag torque based on the theory of neoclassical toroidal viscosity. Quantitative agreement between experiment and theory is found when the effect of toroidally trapped particles is included.

Topics & Keywords

Magnetic confinement fusion research Ionosphere and magnetosphere dynamics Solar and Space Plasma Dynamics

Publication Details

Published in: Physical Review Letters

Volume 96, Issue 22, pp. 225002-225002

DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.96.225002

Field-Weighted Citation Impact: 21.62

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Observation of Plasma Toroidal-Momentum Dissipation by Neoclassical Toroidal Viscosity

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Abstract

Topics & Keywords

Publication Details