MHD Stability of Free Boundary Toroidal Z Pinch

抄録

The Magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) stability of a free boundary toroidal Z pinch plasma is investigated. Equilibrium field profiles are chosen so that μ is nearly uniform in the central region, μ and dμ⁄dr vanish on the boundary and Suydam’s criterion is satisfied throughout the plasma. The stability of the equilibrium is examined for the ratio b of the conducting wall radius to the plasma radius and plasma pressure. The stability of non-resonant ideal modes is determined mainly from the safty factor on the axis. Non-resonant modes are dominant for low plasma pressure, whereas resonant modes are dominant for high plasma pressure. Tearing modes are stable only for b below 1.04. The width of the magnetic islands produced from the tearing modes is evaluated. As b increases, overlap of the magnetic islands occurs over a wide area in the plasma.