Neoclassical magnetic microislands in tokamaks.

• Grant number: 06/03428-8
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants - Publications - Scientific article
• Start date: August 01, 2006
• End date: September 30, 2006
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Physics - Physics of Fluids, Plasma Physics and Electrical Discharge
• Principal Investigator: Vladimir Semenovich Tsypin
• Grantee: Vladimir Semenovich Tsypin
• Host Institution: Instituto de Física (IF). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Possibility of existence of neoclassical magnetic microislands (island width smaller than the ion Larmor radius) in a tokamak in the banana regime is shown. The rotation frequency of such islands is found. It is shown that for the case of positive electron temperature gradient the bootstrap current destabilizes the microislands while the polarization current leads to their stabilization. Maximally possible neoclassical microisland width is estimated. (AU)