Three-dimensional magnetohydrodynamic NFTC code for simulation of nonlinear instabilities in toroidal plasmas

✍ Scribed by A.M. Popov; Y.Q. Liu

• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 1999
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 37 KB
• Volume: 121-122
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0010-4655
• DOI: 10.1016/s0010-4655(06)70121-7

✦ Synopsis

The development and numerical properties of an extended three-dimensional MHD code for large scale simulations of nonlinear instabilities in toroidal plasmas is presented. The NFTC (Nonlinear Full Toroidal Code) code solves the full, compressible MHD equations in general toroidal geometry using a straight field line flux coordinate system. An effective implicit numerical scheme allows the transport profile to evolve self consistently with the nonlinear MHD instabilities and externally applied sources and sinks. Neoclassical terms are included into the basic equations for the magnetic field. The equation for pressure is modified by incorporation of the perpendicular transport across magnetic islands and high but finite parallel thermal conductivity along magnetic field lines. Peculiarity of the fully implicit flux difference scheme to resolve the hard, threshold nonlinear instabilities is discussed. Simulations of nonlinear threshold instabilities excitation observed in tokamak plasma are performed.