Linear and nonlinear particle-magnetohydrodynamic simulations of the toroidal Alfvén eigenmode

Abstract

Linear and nonlinear particle-magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) simulation codes are developed to study interactions between energetic ions and MHD modes. Energetic alpha particles with the slowing-down distribution are considered and the behavior of n=2 toroidal Alfvén eigenmodes (TAE modes) is investigated with the parameters pertinent to the present large tokamaks. The linear simulation reveals the resonance condition between alpha particles and TAE mode. In the nonlinear simulation, two n=2 TAE modes are destabilized and alpha particle losses induced thereby are observed. Counterpassing particles are lost when they cross the passing-trapped boundary. They are the major part of lost particles, but trapped particles are also lost appreciably.