ROTATING NONLINEAR MAGNETIC ISLANDS IN A TOKAMAK PLASMA

The nonlinear dynamics of rotating low m (poloidal mode number) tearing modes in a tokamak with external resonant magnetic perturbations is examined. Nonlinear evolution equations for the island width and the toroidal rotation frequency are derived within the two-fluid magnetohydrodynamic model, taking into account the plasma rotation and neoclassical parallel viscosity. The nonlinear stability of magnetic islands interacting with a static external magnetic perturbation is considered, and the critical magnetic field for the appearance of a locked mode is determined. It is shown that the coupling of the perpendicular and longitudinal plasma flow due to the neoclassical plasma viscosity enhances the amplitude of the critical magnetic field compared to the value obtained in a slab approximation. The perpendicular plasma viscosity causes a finite phase shift between the applied external field and the magnetic island, and further increases the value of the critical magnetic field required to induce a magnetic island. © 1995 American Institute of Physics.