Error field penetration and locking to the backward propagating wave

In this letter, we investigate error field penetration, or locking, behavior in plasmas having stable tearing modes with finite real frequencies ωr in the plasma frame. In particular, we address the fact that locking can drive a significant equilibrium flow. We show that this occurs at a velocity sl...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Physics of plasmas 2015-12, Vol.22 (12)
Main Authors: Finn, John M., Cole, Andrew J., Brennan, Dylan P.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Curvature
Equilibrium flow
Error analysis
Locking
Penetration
Plasmas
Pressure effects
Propagation modes
Tearing
Tearing modes (plasmas)
Wave propagation
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Summary:In this letter, we investigate error field penetration, or locking, behavior in plasmas having stable tearing modes with finite real frequencies ωr in the plasma frame. In particular, we address the fact that locking can drive a significant equilibrium flow. We show that this occurs at a velocity slightly above v=ωr/k, corresponding to the interaction with a backward propagating tearing mode in the plasma frame. Results are discussed for a few typical tearing mode regimes, including a new derivation showing that the existence of real frequencies occurs for viscoresistive tearing modes, in an analysis including the effects of pressure gradient, curvature, and parallel dynamics. The general result of locking to a finite velocity flow is applicable to a wide range of tearing mode regimes, indeed any regime where real frequencies occur.
ISSN:1070-664X
1089-7674
DOI:10.1063/1.4939211