Rotational transform: Difference between revisions

→‎Safety factor: Adding some general information on the relevance of the safety factor q in tokamak research.
No edit summary
(→‎Safety factor: Adding some general information on the relevance of the safety factor q in tokamak research.)
Line 22: Line 22:


:<math>q \simeq \frac{r B_\varphi}{R B_\theta}</math>
:<math>q \simeq \frac{r B_\varphi}{R B_\theta}</math>
Where the poloidal magnetic field <math>{B_\theta}</math> is mostly produced by a toroidal plasma current. The principal significance of the safety factor q is that if <math>q \leq 2</math> at the last closed flux surface (the edge), the plasma is [[magnetohydronamically]] unstable.<ref>Wesson J 1997 Tokamaks 2nd edn (Oxford: Oxford University Press) p280 </ref>
In [[Tokamak|tokamaks]] with a [[divertor]], q approaches infinity at the [[separatrix]], so it is more useful to consider q just inside the separatrix. Is is customary to use q at the 95% flux surface (q95).


== See also ==
== See also ==
3

edits