Triangularity: Difference between revisions

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[[File:Geometry.png|400px|thumb|right|Sketch of tokamak geometry, including separatrix]]  
[[File:Geometry.png|400px|thumb|right|Sketch of tokamak geometry, including separatrix]]
[[File:Cross_section_1shift_2elong_3triang_4square.png|400px|thumb|right|Illustration of the m=1,2,3, and 4 perturbations to a tokamak plasma cross section. Triangularity is the m=3 perturbation.]]
The triangularity refers to the shape of the poloidal cross section of the Last Closed [[Flux surface]] (LCFS) or [[separatrix]] of a [[tokamak]].  
The triangularity refers to the shape of the poloidal cross section of the Last Closed [[Flux surface]] (LCFS) or [[separatrix]] of a [[tokamak]].  
Assuming<ref>T.C. Luce, [[doi:10.1088/0741-3335/55/9/095009|Plasma Phys. Control. Fusion '''55''' (2013) 095009 ]]</ref>:
Assuming<ref>T.C. Luce, [[doi:10.1088/0741-3335/55/9/095009|Plasma Phys. Control. Fusion '''55''' (2013) 095009 ]]</ref>:
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and similar for &delta;<sub>lower</sub>.
and similar for &delta;<sub>lower</sub>.
The overall triangularity is defined as the mean of &delta;<sub>upper</sub> and &delta;<sub>lower</sub>.
The overall triangularity is defined as the mean of &delta;<sub>upper</sub> and &delta;<sub>lower</sub>.
Triangularity, especially the triangularity opposite the dominant X-point (so upper triangularity for a lower null plasma), influences the stability and character of the [[pedestal]] and [[Edge Localized Modes|ELMs]].<ref>[[doi:10.1088/0741-3335/42/5A/319|T.H. Osborne, et al., Plasma Phys. Control. Fusion '''42''' (2000) A175]]</ref>
Some devices (TCV and DIII-D) can form plasma cross sections with negative triangularity (the X-points are pushed to larger <math>R</math> than the center of the plasma), which makes H-mode difficult or impossible to access but improves performance of the L-mode.<ref>[[doi:10.1088/1741-4326/abdb95|W. Han, et al., Nucl. Fusion '''61''' (2021) 034003]]</ref>


== See also ==
== See also ==

Latest revision as of 23:50, 30 March 2023

Sketch of tokamak geometry, including separatrix
Illustration of the m=1,2,3, and 4 perturbations to a tokamak plasma cross section. Triangularity is the m=3 perturbation.

The triangularity refers to the shape of the poloidal cross section of the Last Closed Flux surface (LCFS) or separatrix of a tokamak. Assuming[1]:

  • Rmax is the maximum value of R along the LCFS or separatrix.
  • Rmin is the minimum value of R along the LCFS or separatrix.
  • Rgeo is the geometric major radius, defined as (Rmax + Rmin)/2.
  • a is the minor radius of the plasma, defined as (Rmax - Rmin)/2.
  • Rupper is the major radius of the highest vertical point of the LCFS or separatrix.
  • Rlower is the major radius of the lowest vertical point of the LCFS or separatrix.

The upper triangularity is then defined as follows:

and similar for δlower. The overall triangularity is defined as the mean of δupper and δlower.

Triangularity, especially the triangularity opposite the dominant X-point (so upper triangularity for a lower null plasma), influences the stability and character of the pedestal and ELMs.[2]

Some devices (TCV and DIII-D) can form plasma cross sections with negative triangularity (the X-points are pushed to larger than the center of the plasma), which makes H-mode difficult or impossible to access but improves performance of the L-mode.[3]

See also

References