Active Stabilization of the Resistive-Wall Mode in High-Beta, Low-Rotation Plasmas

S. A. Sabbagh, R. E. Bell, J. E. Menard, D. A. Gates, A. C. Sontag, J. M. Bialek, B. P. LeBlanc, F. M. Levinton, K. Tritz, and H. Yuh

Phys. Rev. Lett. 97, 045004 – Published 28 July 2006

Abstract

The resistive-wall mode is actively stabilized in the National Spherical Torus Experiment in high-beta plasmas rotating significantly below the critical rotation speed for passive stability and in the range predicted for the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor. Variation of feedback stabilization parameters shows mode excitation or suppression. Stabilization of toroidal mode number unity did not lead to instability of toroidal mode number two. The mode can become unstable by deforming poloidally, an important consideration for stabilization system design.

Received 4 June 2006

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.97.045004

Authors & Affiliations

S. A. Sabbagh¹, R. E. Bell², J. E. Menard², D. A. Gates², A. C. Sontag¹, J. M. Bialek¹, B. P. LeBlanc², F. M. Levinton³, K. Tritz⁴, and H. Yuh³

¹Department of Applied Physics and Applied Mathematics, Columbia University, New York, New York 10027, USA
²Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08543, USA
³Nova Photonics, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08543, USA
⁴Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, USA

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Vol. 97, Iss. 4 — 28 July 2006

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