Simulation of convective transport during frequency chirping of a TAE using the MEGA code

We present a procedure to examine energetic particle phase-space during long range frequency chirping phenomena in tokamak plasmas. To apply the proposed method, we have performed self-consistent simulations using the MEGA code and analyzed the simulation data. We demonstrate a travelling wave in phase-space and that there exist specific slices of phase-space on which the resonant particles lie throughout the wave evolution. For non-linear evolution of an n=6 toroidicity-induced Alfven eigenmode (TAE), our results reveal the formation of coherent phase-space structures (holes/clumps) after coarse-graining of the distribution function. These structures cause a convective transport in phase-space which implies a radial drift of the resonant particles. We also demonstrate that the rate of frequency chirping increases with the TAE damping rate. Our observations of the TAE behaviour and the corresponding phase-space dynamics are consistent with the Berk-Breizman (BB) theory.

Unifying Models of Chorus Wave Frequency Chirping

A new model of chorus wave electron interaction attempts to explain how observations can support two seemingly contradictory mechanisms of frequency chirping.

On Resonant Interaction of Electrons with Falling-Tone Chorus Waves

<p>Whistler-mode chorus waves are one of the most intense wave phenomena in the Earth’s inner magnetosphere. They are considered to be a major driver of the outer radiation belt dynamics, as they can efficiently scatter and energize electrons via resonant wave-particle interaction. These waves are observed as series of discrete coherent structures with rising or falling frequencies in the whistler frequency range (below local electron cyclotron frequency).</p><p>Such frequency variation results in a correction to the resonance Hamiltonian which describes particle dynamics in the given wave field. For a monochromatic wave, the effective potential in the resonance Hamiltonian consists of two terms. The first one corresponds to the nonlinear pendulum and describes the direct interaction of a particle with the wave. The second term accounts for plasma inhomogeneity, describing the effects of spatial gradients of plasma and wave parameters on the particle. Frequency chirping contributes to this effective inhomogeneity, producing a correction to this second term. The inhomogeneity term is of particular importance for the trapped particles that remain in resonance with the wave, this term defines their acceleration. And, as spatial inhomogeneity becomes zero at the equator (for dipole magnetic field), the wave frequency variation contribution might be the dominant one close to this region.</p><p>In this report, we present the results of test particle simulations of the electron dynamics in the field of a chirped wave. A general curvilinear relativistic code is developed to address the particle dynamics in the wave field, pre-determined from the simplified wave equations. We demonstrate that particle acceleration is affected by the competition between the effective inhomogeneity related to the wave frequency chirping and spatial inhomogeneity of the Earth’s magnetic field.</p><p>The work is supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF) grant No. 1502923. We would like to acknowledge high-performance computing support from Cheyenne (doi:10.5065/D6RX99HX) provided by NCAR’s Computational and Information Systems Laboratory, sponsored by NSF</p>

Обнаружение высокочастотных альфвеновских колебаний в омических разрядах сферического токамака Глобус-М2

In Globus-M2 ohmic discharges with low density, by means of Mirnov coils array, magnetic field oscillations with frequencies in 1 MHz range were detected. Frequency range of these oscillations significantly exceed the range of TAE and RSAE frequencies, which were previously observed on Globus-M and Globus-M2 tokamaks, and their amplitude, contrary, turned out to be up to an order of magnitude lower. It was found that high frequency oscillations are interrelated with suprathermal electron fraction. At the same time the observed instability seems to have Alfvenic nature, since its frequency correlates well with Alfven frequency scaling. It was also found that magnetic perturbation always forms standing wave with predominantly low toroidal wavenumbers, including n = 0 structure, which makes gap (e.g. TAE) mode excitation impossible. Frequency chirping during single bursts with δω ~ √t is consistent with hole-clump model predictions.