This paper is a concise review of the physics of structures. The progress of the structure theory was motivated by the appearances of many different ordered structures that are self-organized through spontaneous dynamics. These observations impressed on us that our physics interest has been forwarded far from the classical orders of the maximized entropy. For typical examples in plasma physics, cited are the MHD equilibria (Taylor relaxed state), the ion acoustic solitons, and the van Kampen modes of continuous-spectrum Langmuir waves. The MHD equilibria and the solitons are examples of structures self-organized in dissipative dynamical systems, while the van Kampen modes are of a different physics structure. The third example is cited to distinguish the self-organization phenomena in dissipative systems and the echo phenomena in conservative systems. A static theory for the intrinsic structures is developed to clarify the basic difference between the classical orders and the self-organized structures. In linear models, an intrinsic structure is characterized by a singular spectrum of a certain eigenvalue problem. The Taylor relaxed state is characterized by the continuum of the point spectra of the rotational operator. The general MHD equilibrium is related to a nonlinear eigenvalue problem. The soliton is a nonlinear eigenfunction of the Helmholtz-type Bohm equation. The variational expression of an intrinsic structure is characterized by restrictive functionals, which, in a dynamical theory, is related to selective conservations. The principle of the selective dissipations and conservations in relaxations provides a dynamical characterization of the self-organization. The Taylor relaxed state is obtained by minimizing the, magnetic-field energy with conserving the magnetic helicity. This selective dissipation occurs in the fluctuations of kink modes. The soliton is self-organized by the dissipation of the Hamiltonian with keeping the energy approximately constant. The principle of the selective dissipation is logically a generalization of the ergodic hypothesis for the classical order. The selective dissipation could be proved in a rigorous way by analyzing the attractor of the dynamical systems (semigroups), just as the proof the ergodic theorem is obtained by the time-asymptotic analysis of a class of semigroups.

View full abstract

In this section, the bases of current drive utilizing fast ions produced by the injection of a neutral beam or ICRF minority heating are described. Also is considered the bootstrap current driven by plasma diffusion across the magnetic field. The current drive by an electron beam will be written in Chap. 4 of this series lecture.

View full abstract

In this section, the neoclassical effects on the non-inductive current drive are described. In 2-3-1, an adjoint method for calculating non-inductively induced current in an inhomogeneous magnetic field is introduced. The neoclassical effects on the current drive by NBI and ECRH are presented in 2-3-2.

View full abstract

In the Himeji FACT device, the poloidal magnetic flux of spheromak was amplified successfully by injecting the magnetic helicity electrostatically. It was verified by investigating the magnetic field structures that the spheromak configuration with the external flux, being different from the simple spheromak, was generated in the flux conserver. This external flux and the Z current flowing along it play a major part in the flux conversion from toroidal to poloidal flux. We studied the conservation of helicity by doing the helicity balance tests in the FACT system. A threshold for helicity injection from the plasma source was determined to be λ_g.c-10 m^-1.

View full abstract

Intense generation of neutrons in “cold” fusion was achieved where “avalanche” phenomenon of neutrons emission was frequently observed by the deuterium forcedly penetrated into a palladium cathode (φ2cm×5cm). There found a very specific phenomenon of intense charge and discharge of deuterium in the Pd cathode during the continuous electrolysis of heavy water, and this was termed “on-off effect”. While the Pd was strongly absorbing and exhausting deuterium, the thermal behavior of the Pd was examined in detail, and it was, concluded that its feature and the generation of huge innerpressure of the Pd should be a necessary condition for the achievement of “cold” fusion reaction. It was clarified that a large amount of excess heat produced during the electrolysis was not due to “unobserved nuclear fusion” proposed by Fleischmann and Pons, but due to “reaction heat” which connected with intense absorption and explosive exhaust of the deuterium into and out of the Pd.

View full abstract