Anomalous Resistivity Calculations in Field Reversed Configurations
Author: Ammar H Hakim
Requested Type: Poster Only
Submitted: 2006-12-18 13:05:51
Co-authors: P. Stoltz, S. Kruger
Contact Info:
Tech-X Corporation
5621, Arapahoe Avenue, Suite A
Boulder, Colorado 80303
USA
Abstract Text:
Anomalous resistivity is thought to be an important dissipation
mechanism in low-collisional plasmas like Field-Reversed
Configurations (FRCs). Although an important mechanism there are no
detailed studies using first-principle numerical simulations. In this
work we present simulations and comparisons of anomalous resistivity
in planar current sheets using various plasma fluid models. The first
model we use is the Five-Moment Two-Fluid model. In this model the
pressure tensor is assumed to be isotropic. Electron inertia and
displacement current effects are taken into account. The second model
we use is the Ten-Moment Two-Fluid model. In this, in addition to
electron inertia and displacement currents, the full anisotropic
pressure tensor is evolved using a consistent set of time-dependent
moment equations. The final model we use is a resistive MHD model
using empirical fits for resistivity as implemented in codes like
MACH2 and MOCHI. All three models are initialized with the same
current sheet and perturbed. The evolution of the perturbation with
time is studied and compared by computing resistivity by suitable
averaging of the simulation results. Using numerical results we
analyze the possible physical mechanism of the resistivity. The study
is concluded with a discussion of the significance to full-scale
simulations of FRCs used in the FRX-L Magnetized Target Fusion
experiment at Los-Alamos.
Characterization: E4,E5
Comments:
