Beta: Difference between revisions

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Plasma performance is often expressed in terms of beta (<math>\beta</math>), defined as:
Plasma performance is often expressed in terms of beta (<math>\beta</math>), defined as:
<ref>J.P. Freidberg, ''Plasma physics and fusion energy'', Cambridge University Press (2007) ISBN 0521851076</ref>
<ref name="freidberg">J.P. Freidberg, ''Plasma physics and fusion energy'', Cambridge University Press (2007) ISBN 0521851076</ref>


:<math>\beta = \frac{\left \langle p \right \rangle}{B^2/2\mu_0}</math>
:<math>\beta = \frac{\left \langle p \right \rangle}{B^2/2\mu_0}</math>
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where <math>B_T</math> is the toroidal magnetic field in T, <math>a</math> is the minor radius in m, and <math>I_p</math> is the plasma current in MA.  
where <math>B_T</math> is the toroidal magnetic field in T, <math>a</math> is the minor radius in m, and <math>I_p</math> is the plasma current in MA.  
The value of <math>\beta_N</math> has been determined numerically by Troyon to 0.028. Often <math>\beta</math> is expressed in percent, in which case <math>\beta_N = 2.8</math>. This limit results from many different numerical studies determined to find the overall <math>\beta</math> limit out of many different MHD instabilities, such as [[external kink modes]], [[ballooning kink modes]], [[internal modes]], [[localized modes]], etc. <ref>J. Freidberg, "Plasma Physics and Fusion Energy",Cambridge University Press (2007) ISBN 139780511273759</ref>  <br>
The value of <math>\beta_N</math> has been determined numerically by Troyon to 0.028. Often <math>\beta</math> is expressed in percent, in which case <math>\beta_N = 2.8</math>. This limit results from many different numerical studies determined to find the overall <math>\beta</math> limit out of many different MHD instabilities, such as [[external kink modes]], [[ballooning kink modes]], [[internal modes]], [[localized modes]], etc. <ref name="freidberg"></ref>  <br>
Empirical evaluation from the data of different tokamaks raises this value slightly to <math>\beta_N = 3.5</math>, although significantly higher values have been achieved.
Empirical evaluation from the data of different tokamaks raises this value slightly to <math>\beta_N = 3.5</math>, although significantly higher values have been achieved.
<ref>S.A. Sabbagh et al, ''Resistive wall stabilized operation in rotating high beta NSTX plasmas'', [[doi:10.1088/0029-5515/46/5/014|Nucl. Fusion '''46''' (2006) 635-644]]</ref>
<ref>S.A. Sabbagh et al, ''Resistive wall stabilized operation in rotating high beta NSTX plasmas'', [[doi:10.1088/0029-5515/46/5/014|Nucl. Fusion '''46''' (2006) 635-644]]</ref>

Revision as of 09:05, 20 April 2015

Plasma performance is often expressed in terms of beta (β), defined as: [1]

β=⟨p⟩B2/2μ0

i.e., the ratio of the plasma pressure to the magnetic pressure. Here, ⟨p⟩ is the mean plasma pressure, and B the mean total field strength. It is customary to introduce also the poloidal beta βp and the toroidal beta βt, in which B is replaced by the poloidal and toroidal magnetic field component, respectively. One has:

1β=1βp+1βt

Normalized beta, beta limit

Troyon Limit[2]

β is often expressed in terms of the normalized beta (or Troyon factor)[3], an operational parameter indicating how close the plasma is to reaching the Greenwald limit or a destabilising major MHD activity. Its definition is (for tokamaks): [4]

βN=βaBTIp

where BT is the toroidal magnetic field in T, a is the minor radius in m, and Ip is the plasma current in MA. The value of βN has been determined numerically by Troyon to 0.028. Often β is expressed in percent, in which case βN=2.8. This limit results from many different numerical studies determined to find the overall β limit out of many different MHD instabilities, such as external kink modes, ballooning kink modes, internal modes, localized modes, etc. [1]
Empirical evaluation from the data of different tokamaks raises this value slightly to βN=3.5, although significantly higher values have been achieved. [5]

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 J.P. Freidberg, Plasma physics and fusion energy, Cambridge University Press (2007) ISBN 0521851076
  2. ↑ ITER Physics Expert Group on Disruptions, Plasma Control, and MHD, ITER Physics Basis Chapter 3: MHD stability, operational limits and disruptions, Nucl. Fusion 39 (1999) 2251-2389
  3. ↑ F. Troyon, R. Gruber, H. Saurenmann, S. Semenzato and S. Succi, MHD-Limits to Plasma Confinement, Plasma Phys. Control. Fusion 26 (1984) 209
  4. ↑ K. Miyamoto, Plasma Physics and Controlled Nuclear Fusion, Springer-Verlag (2005) ISBN 3540242171
  5. ↑ S.A. Sabbagh et al, Resistive wall stabilized operation in rotating high beta NSTX plasmas, Nucl. Fusion 46 (2006) 635-644