Dynamical modelling of tearing mode stabilization by RF current drive

Abstract

The theory of tearing mode stabilization in toroidal plasmas by RF driven currents that are modulated in phase with the island rotation is investigated. A time-scale analysis of the phenomena involved indicates that transient effects, such as finite time response of the driven currents, island rotation during the power pulses and the inductive response of the plasma, are intrinsically important. A dynamical model of such effects is developed, based on a 3-D Fokker-Planck code coupled to both the electric field diffusion equation and the island evolution equation. Extensive applications to both ECCD and LHCD in ITER are presented.