Global gyrokinetic particle simulation of toroidal Alfvén eigenmodes excited by antenna and fast ions

Abstract

Linear properties of toroidal Alfvén eigenmode (TAE) is studied in global gyrokinetic particle simulations using both fast ion and antenna excitations. A synthetic antenna provides a precise measurement of the Alfvén continuum gap width and the TAE eigenmode frequency, damping rate, and mode structures. The measured gap width exhibits a linear dependence on the aspect ratio, in agreement to a local analytic theory. The TAE frequency and mode structure excited by fast ions show a significant radial symmetry breaking relative to the ideal magnetohydrodynamic theory due to the non-perturbative contributions from the fast ions. The electromagnetic capability of the global gyrokinetic toroidal code (GTC) is verified through these global gyrokinetic simulations of Alfvén eigenmode in cylindrical and toroidal geometries.