Plasma Physics and Nuclear Fusion Research

Plasma Physics and Nuclear Fusion Research covers the theoretical and experimental aspects of plasma physics and nuclear fusion. The book starts by providing an overview and survey of plasma physics; the theory of the electrodynamics of deformable media and magnetohydrodynamics; and the particle orbit theory. The text also describes the plasma waves; the kinetic theory; the transport theory; and the MHD stability theory. Advanced theories such as microinstabilities, plasma turbulence, anomalous transport theory, and nonlinear laser plasma interaction theory are also considered. The book further tackles the pinch and tokamak confinement devices; the stellarator confinement devices; the mirror devices; and the next generation tokamaks. The text also encompasses the fusion reactor studies; heating; and diagnostics. Physicists and people involved in the study of plasma physics and nuclear fusion will find the book invaluable.

Contenu

List of Contributors
Preface
Acknowledgments
Section I Introduction
Chapter 1 Overview and Survey of Plasma Physics
1.1 History of Plasma Physics
1.2 Plasma Description
1.3 Plasma Properties
1.4 Particular Plasmas
1.5 Conclusions
References
Chapter 2 Nuclear Fusion Research
2.1 Motivation for Fusion Research
2.2 Nuclear Physics of Fusion
2.3 The Containment Problem
2.4 Magnetic Containment
2.5 Reactor Problems
2.6 Conclusions
References and Additional References
Chapter 3 Introduction to Plasma Physics
3.1 Introduction
3.2 Debye Screening and Neutrality
3.3 Coulomb Scattering
3.4 Plasma Conductivity
3.5 Electron Runaway
3.6 High Frequency Response of Plasma
3.7 Electromagnetic Wave Propagation in a Plasma
3.8 Magnetic Properties
3.9 Equilibrium in a Magnetic Field
3.10 Diffusion across a Magnetic Field
3.11 Waves
References and General References
Section II Theory
Chapter 4 Magnetohydrodynamics
4.1 Introduction
4.2 The Electrodynamics of Deformable Media
4.3 Some Consequences of the Electrodynamic Equations
4.4 Fluid Equations
4.5 Boundary Conditions
4.6 Magnetostatic Equations and MHD Equilibria
References
Chapter 5 Particle Orbit Theory
5.1 Introduction
5.2 Motion in Constant Uniform Fields
5.3 Inhomogeneous and Time Varying Fields
5.4 Adiabatic Invariants
References
Chapter 6 Plasma Waves
6.1 Introduction
6.2 Equations of Motion
6.3 Waves in an Unmagnetized Plasma
6.4 Waves in a Cold Magnetized Plasma
6.5 Magnetosonic Waves
6.6 Waves on Plasma Streams
References
Chapter 7 Kinetic Theory
7.1 Introduction
7.2 Equations for the Distribution Functions
7.3 Near-Equilibrium Plasma
7.4 Vlasov Equation
7.5 Collisional Kinetic Equations
7.6 Fokker-Planck Equation
7.7 Relaxation Times
7.9 Ion Acoustic Instability
7.10 The Bernstein Modes
References
Chapter 8 Transport Theory
8.1 General Information
8.2 Continuum Equations for a Two-Fluid Plasma
8.3 Qualitative Derivation of Transport Coefficients
8.4 Derivation of Transport Coefficients from Kinetic Theory
8.5 The Onsager Principle
8.6 Single-Fluid Model
8.7 Transport Theory for Toroidal Systems
8.8 Drift Kinetic Equations
8.9 Solution of the Drift Kinetic Equation
8.10 Experimental Tests of Transport Theory
References
Chapter 9 MHD Stability Theory
9.1 Introduction
9.2 Rayleigh-Taylor Instability
9.3 Energy Principle
9.4 Cylindrical Pinch
9.5 Resistive Instabilities
9.6 Stability of Tokamaks
9.7 Instabilities in Tokamaks
Chapter 10 Plasma Radiation
10.1 Introduction
10.2 Thermal Equilibria
10.3 Ionization and Recombination Processes which Determine the State of Ionization of Impurities
10.4 The Steady-State Ionization Balance
10.5 Time-Dependent Ionization and Recombination
10.6 Excitation and Spectral Line Intensities
10.7 Radiation Trapping
10.8 The Radiated Power Loss for a Plasma in Steady-State Ionization Balance
References
SECTION III Advanced Theory
Chapter 11 Microinstabilities
11.1 Introduction
11.2 The Drift Wave Dispersion Equation and a Physical Picture of a Drift Wave
11.3 Dissipative Mechanisms giving Instability
11.4 Radial Localization and Stabilization by Shear
References
Chapter 12 Plasma Turbulence
12.1 Introduction
12.2 Quasi-Linear Theory
12.3 Nonlinear Theories
References
Chapter 13 Anomalous Transport Theory
13.1 Introduction
13.2 Quasi linear Theory
13.3 Upper Limit on the Wave Amplitude
13.4 Analytic Estimates of the Saturation Level
13.5 Physical Processes Described by Quasi linear Theory
13.6 Dupree-Type Theories
13.7 Effect of Magnetic Field Fluctuations
13.8 Comparison of Theory and Experiment
13.9 1-D Computations
13.10 Conclusions
References
Chapter 14 Nonlinear Laser Plasma Interaction Theory
14.1 Introduction
14.2 General Discussion of Parametric Instability
14.3 Qualitative Description of Parametric Instabilities in an Unmagnetised Plasma
14.4 Quantitative Description of Parametric Instabilities
14.5 Inhomogeneous Plasma
14.6 Modulational Instabilities and Four Wave Interactions
14.7 Filamentation
14.8 The Langmuir Modulation Instability and Langmuir Turbulence
14.9 Resonance Absorption
14.10 Conclusion
References
Additional General References
Section IV Experimental Devices
Chapter 15 Pinch and Tokamak Confinement Devices
15.1 Introduction
15.2 Magnetic Confinement
15.3 Toroidal Confinement Systems
15.4 Stability
15.5 Technology of Toroidal Confinement Systems
15.6 Progress in Tokamak Experiments
15.7 Additional Heating
15.8 Plasma Fuelling
15.9 Impurity Control
15.10 Screw Pinches and Belt Pinches
15.11 Reverse Field Pinches
15.12 Future Devices
15.13 Conclusions
References
Chapter 16 Stellarator Confinement Devices
16.1 Basic Background
16.2 Magnetic Topology
16.3 Stellarator Equilibrium
16.4 Stellarator Stability
16.5 Experiments - Historical
16.6 Experiments - Recent Results
16.7 Other Forms of Plasma Production and Heating
16.8 Reactor Possibilities
16.9 Conclusions
References
Chapter 17 Mirror Devices
17.1 Introduction
17.2 Mirror Confinement
17.3 Mirror Instabilities and Minimum B
17.4 Micro-Instabilities
17.5 Classical Diffusion Losses
17.6 The Tandem Concept
17.7 On the Possibility of a Mirror Reactor
17.8 Further Reading
References
Chapter 18 The Next Generation Tokamaks
18.1 Introduction
18.2 The Status of Tokamak Research
18.3 Tokamak Subsystems - Design Considerations
18.4 The Next Generation
Reference
Chapter 19 Fusion Reactor Studies
19.1 Introduction
19.2 Types of Reactor Studies
19.3 The Objectives of Reactor Studies
19.4 Description of Reactor Designs
19.5 Assessments of Fusion Reactors
19.6 Conclusion
References
Section V Heating and Diagnostics
Chapter 20 Neutral Injection Heating
20.1 Introduction
20.2 Neutral Injection Heating
20.3 The Neutral Injection System
20.4 Results
20.5 Summary and Conclusions
References
Chapter 21 The Theory of Radio Frequency Plasma Heating
21.1 Introduction
21.2 Non-Oscillatory and Low-Frequency Schemes
21.3 High-Frequency Waves - Propagation and Absorption
21.4 Specific Heating Schemes
21.5 Conclusions
References
Chapter 22 Radio Frequency Plasma Heating Experiments
22.1 Introduction
22.2 Transit Time Magnetic Pumping
22.3 Heating in the Ion Cyclotron Range of Frequencies
22.4 Lower Hybrid Resonance Heating
22.5 Electron Cyclotron Resonance Heating
22.6 RF Cur…