Coarse-grained gyrokinetics for the critical ion temperature gradient in stellarators
We present a modified gyrokinetic theory to predict the critical gradient that determines the linear onset of the ion temperature gradient (ITG) mode in stellarator plasmas. A coarse-graining technique is applied to the drift curvature, entering the standard gyrokinetic equations, around local minim...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
American Physical Society
2022-08-01
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| Series: | Physical Review Research |
| Online Access: | http://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevResearch.4.L032028 |
| _version_ | 1797210626787901440 |
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| author | G. T. Roberg-Clark G. G. Plunk P. Xanthopoulos |
| author_facet | G. T. Roberg-Clark G. G. Plunk P. Xanthopoulos |
| author_sort | G. T. Roberg-Clark |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | We present a modified gyrokinetic theory to predict the critical gradient that determines the linear onset of the ion temperature gradient (ITG) mode in stellarator plasmas. A coarse-graining technique is applied to the drift curvature, entering the standard gyrokinetic equations, around local minima. Thanks to its simplicity, this novel formalism yields an estimate for the critical gradient with a computational cost low enough for application to stellarator optimization. When comparing against a gyrokinetic solver, our results show good agreement for an assortment of stellarator designs. Insight gained here into the physics of the onset of the ITG-driven instability enables us to devise a compact configuration, similar to the Wendelstein 7-X device, but with almost twice the ITG linear critical gradient, an improved nonlinear critical gradient, and reduced ITG mode transport above the nonlinear critical gradient. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T10:13:35Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-1d9f2e77e3254a7e8e26a4bd86b810a0 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2643-1564 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T10:13:35Z |
| publishDate | 2022-08-01 |
| publisher | American Physical Society |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Physical Review Research |
| spelling | doaj.art-1d9f2e77e3254a7e8e26a4bd86b810a02024-04-12T17:23:43ZengAmerican Physical SocietyPhysical Review Research2643-15642022-08-0143L03202810.1103/PhysRevResearch.4.L032028Coarse-grained gyrokinetics for the critical ion temperature gradient in stellaratorsG. T. Roberg-ClarkG. G. PlunkP. XanthopoulosWe present a modified gyrokinetic theory to predict the critical gradient that determines the linear onset of the ion temperature gradient (ITG) mode in stellarator plasmas. A coarse-graining technique is applied to the drift curvature, entering the standard gyrokinetic equations, around local minima. Thanks to its simplicity, this novel formalism yields an estimate for the critical gradient with a computational cost low enough for application to stellarator optimization. When comparing against a gyrokinetic solver, our results show good agreement for an assortment of stellarator designs. Insight gained here into the physics of the onset of the ITG-driven instability enables us to devise a compact configuration, similar to the Wendelstein 7-X device, but with almost twice the ITG linear critical gradient, an improved nonlinear critical gradient, and reduced ITG mode transport above the nonlinear critical gradient.http://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevResearch.4.L032028 |
| spellingShingle | G. T. Roberg-Clark G. G. Plunk P. Xanthopoulos Coarse-grained gyrokinetics for the critical ion temperature gradient in stellarators Physical Review Research |
| title | Coarse-grained gyrokinetics for the critical ion temperature gradient in stellarators |
| title_full | Coarse-grained gyrokinetics for the critical ion temperature gradient in stellarators |
| title_fullStr | Coarse-grained gyrokinetics for the critical ion temperature gradient in stellarators |
| title_full_unstemmed | Coarse-grained gyrokinetics for the critical ion temperature gradient in stellarators |
| title_short | Coarse-grained gyrokinetics for the critical ion temperature gradient in stellarators |
| title_sort | coarse grained gyrokinetics for the critical ion temperature gradient in stellarators |
| url | http://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevResearch.4.L032028 |
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