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 name="freidberg">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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:<math>\frac{1}{\beta} = \frac{1}{\beta_p} + \frac{1}{\beta_t}</math>
:<math>\frac{1}{\beta} = \frac{1}{\beta_p} + \frac{1}{\beta_t}</math>


== Normalized beta, beta limit ==
== Normalized beta ==
[[File:Troyon limit.png|200px|thumb|Troyon Limit<ref>ITER Physics Expert Group on Disruptions, Plasma Control, and MHD, ''ITER Physics Basis Chapter 3: MHD stability, operational limits and disruptions'', [[doi:10.1088/0029-5515/39/12/303|Nucl. Fusion '''39 ''' (1999) 2251-2389]]</ref>]]
[[File:Troyon limit.png|300px|thumb|Troyon Limit<ref>ITER Physics Expert Group on Disruptions, Plasma Control, and MHD, ''ITER Physics Basis Chapter 3: MHD stability, operational limits and disruptions'', [[doi:10.1088/0029-5515/39/12/303|Nucl. Fusion '''39 ''' (1999) 2251-2389]]</ref>]]
<math>\beta</math> is often expressed in terms of the normalized beta (or Troyon factor)<ref>F. Troyon, R. Gruber, H. Saurenmann, S. Semenzato and S. Succi, ''MHD-Limits to Plasma Confinement'', [[doi:10.1088/0741-3335/26/1A/319|Plasma Phys. Control. Fusion '''26''' (1984) 209]]</ref>, 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):
<math>\beta</math> is often expressed in terms of the normalized beta (or Troyon factor)<ref>F. Troyon, R. Gruber, H. Saurenmann, S. Semenzato and S. Succi, ''MHD-Limits to Plasma Confinement'', [[doi:10.1088/0741-3335/26/1A/319|Plasma Phys. Control. Fusion '''26''' (1984) 209]]</ref>, an operational parameter indicating how close the plasma is to reaching destabilising major MHD activity. Its definition is (for tokamaks):
<ref>K. Miyamoto, ''Plasma Physics and Controlled Nuclear Fusion'', Springer-Verlag (2005) ISBN 3540242171</ref>
<ref>K. Miyamoto, ''Plasma Physics and Controlled Nuclear Fusion'', Springer-Verlag (2005) {{ISBN|3540242171}}</ref>


:<math>\beta_N = \beta \frac{a B_T}{I_p}</math>
:<math>\beta_N = \beta \frac{a B_T}{I_p}</math>


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 name="freidberg"></ref> <br>
 
== Beta limit ==
 
The upper limit 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>
 
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>