Nonlinear MHD Simulations of Spherical Tokamak and Helical Plasmas

Nonlinear magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) simulations on relaxation phenomena in a spherical tokamak and a helical plasma, including three-dimensional (3D) equilibrium computations, are executed in full toroidal geometries. For a spherical tokamak, two-step evolution of the medium-n ballooning instabilities and a successive excitation of an internal n=1 crash has been observed. A similar process has been observed in an actual tokamak experiment of TFTR. The process is compared with a previous simulation for another MHD activity that is called the internal reconnection event (IRE). Three dimensional equilibrium code HINT is modified to extend functions, by which an n=1 island structure used for the local island diverter (LID) experiment in the LHD device is analyzed in finite pressure equilibria. Nonlinear simulations are executed for LHD plasma and pressure deformation due to evolution of m=2/n=1 pressure driven mode is observed, which has larger growth rate and saturation level than medium-n ballooning modes.