Effective plasma radius: Difference between revisions

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* Based on the surface area ''S(&psi;)'' of a flux surface (using ''S'' = 4 &pi;<sup>2</sup>''Rr''<sub>eff</sub>)
* Based on the surface area ''S(&psi;)'' of a flux surface (using ''S'' = 4 &pi;<sup>2</sup>''Rr''<sub>eff</sub>)
Here, ''R'' is the [[Toroidal coordinates|major radius]] of the [[:Wikipedia:Torus|torus]].
Here, ''R'' is the [[Toroidal coordinates|major radius]] of the [[:Wikipedia:Torus|torus]].
Particularly in helical systems, choosing a value of ''R'' may be inappropriate (since the magnetic axis is not a circle, and the shape of the flux surfaces is not close to a toroid).
Particularly in helical systems, choosing a value of ''R'' may be inappropriate (since the magnetic axis is not a circle, and the shape of the flux surfaces deviates from that of a torus).
One can avoid making an (arbitrary) choice for ''R'' by defining  
One can avoid making an (arbitrary) choice for ''R'' by defining  
* ''r''<sub>eff</sub> = 2''V/S'' (this still implicitly assumes the surfaces are very similar to a torus)
* ''r''<sub>eff</sub> = 2''V/S''
This still implicitly assumes the surfaces are very similar to a torus.
 
A different approach is offered by recognizing that the flux surfaces are topological toroids of a single parameter.  
A different approach is offered by recognizing that the flux surfaces are topological toroids of a single parameter.  
Then, the surface area and volume corresponding to such surfaces are related.
Then, the surface area and volume corresponding to such surfaces are related via a differential equation.  
Assuming only that ''S'' is linear in ''r''<sub>eff</sub> (or ''V'' is cuadratic in ''r''<sub>eff</sub>), it follows that:
Assuming only that ''S'' is linear in ''r''<sub>eff</sub> (or ''V'' is cuadratic in ''r''<sub>eff</sub>), it follows that:
* ''r''<sub>eff</sub> = ''dV/dS'' (more general)
* ''r''<sub>eff</sub> = ''dV/dS''
This definition is more general.


== Effective radius based on field lines ==
== Effective radius based on field lines ==

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