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Electromagnetic energy transport by tearing fluctuations in a self-organized reversed-field pinch plasma

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 May 2022

Derek J. Thuecks Open the ORCID record for Derek J. Thuecks [Opens in a new window]  and
Karsten J. McCollam Open the ORCID record for Karsten J. McCollam [Opens in a new window]
Derek J. Thuecks*
Affiliation:
Department of Physics, Washington College, 300 Washington Avenue, Chestertown, MD 21620, USA
Karsten J. McCollam
Affiliation:
Department of Physics, University of Wisconsin–Madison, 1150 University Avenue, Madison, WI 53706, USA
*
†Email address for correspondence: dthuecks2@washcoll.edu
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Abstract

Fluctuation measurements reveal the outward electromagnetic energy flux needed to drive the dynamo electromotive force supporting magnetic self-organization in a reversed-field pinch plasma. The radial Poynting flux due to tearing mode fluctuations is measured with an insertable probe during magnetic relaxation. This flux corresponds to transient power levels much larger than the input power and comparable to the global equilibrium magnetic energy transient loss rate. The probe measurements of this flux are roughly as predicted by a simple Poynting's theorem model upon substitution of equilibrium measurement data.

Keywords

plasma dynamicsplasma nonlinear phenomenaplasma instabilities

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Type
Letter
Information
Journal of Plasma Physics , Volume 88 , Issue 3 , June 2022 , 905880302
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Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2022. Published by Cambridge University Press

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References

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