Intrinsic momentum transport driven by almost-rational surfaces in tokamak plasmas

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Ball, Justin, Volcokas, Arnas, Brunner, Stephan
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
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author Ball, Justin
Volcokas, Arnas
Brunner, Stephan
author_facet Ball, Justin
Volcokas, Arnas
Brunner, Stephan
contents We demonstrate that a symmetry of the local gyrokinetic model is broken when the safety factor q is almost (but not exactly) a rational number and magnetic shear is $\hat{s} \approx 0$. Tokamaks with such a q profile will spontaneously rotate due to turbulent momentum transport. Nonlinear gyrokinetic simulations indicate this mechanism is significantly stronger than all other drives of intrinsic rotation. It also generates intrinsic electric current that pulls q towards rational values, potentially aiding non-inductive current drive. This is likely important in the triggering of internal transport barriers.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2503_08793
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Intrinsic momentum transport driven by almost-rational surfaces in tokamak plasmas
Ball, Justin
Volcokas, Arnas
Brunner, Stephan
Plasma Physics
We demonstrate that a symmetry of the local gyrokinetic model is broken when the safety factor q is almost (but not exactly) a rational number and magnetic shear is $\hat{s} \approx 0$. Tokamaks with such a q profile will spontaneously rotate due to turbulent momentum transport. Nonlinear gyrokinetic simulations indicate this mechanism is significantly stronger than all other drives of intrinsic rotation. It also generates intrinsic electric current that pulls q towards rational values, potentially aiding non-inductive current drive. This is likely important in the triggering of internal transport barriers.
title Intrinsic momentum transport driven by almost-rational surfaces in tokamak plasmas
topic Plasma Physics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2503.08793