Fusion Res.
Res. SERIES,SERIES,Vol.
Vol.6 (2004)
6 (2004)496–499
000–000
J. Plasma Fusion

MHD Equilibrium of Heliotron J Plasmas
SUZUKI Yasuhiro, NAKAMURA Yuji, KONDO Katsumi,
NAKAJIMA Noriyoshi1 and HAYASHI Takaya1
Graduate School of Energy Science, Kyoto University, Uji, 611-0011, Japan
1National Institute for Fusion Science, Toki, 509-5292, Japan(Received: 9 December 2003 / Accepted: 1 April 2004)

Abstract
MHD equilibria of Heliotron J plasma are investigated by using HINT code. By assuming some profiles of thecurrent density, effects of the net toroidal currents on the magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) equilibrium are investigated.
If the rotational transform can be controlled by the currents, the generation of good flux surfaces is expected. In orderto study equilibria with self-consistent bootstrap current, the boozer coordinates are constructed by converged HINT
equilibrium as a preliminary study. Obtained spectra are compared with ones of VMEC code and both results are consistent.
Keywords:
MHD, equilibrium, net plasma current, boozer coordinate, Heliotron Jstudied. Inthe last section, we conclude the obtained results.

1. Introduction
Heliotron J device is an L = 1/M = 4 Helical-Axis
Heliotron configuration, which has large flexibility [1]. Themain parameters are R = 1.2 m, 〈ap 〉 ~ 0.1−0.2 m, B ≤ 1.5 T
and t ~ 0.4−0.8, where R is the major radius, ap is the averaged minor radius and t is the rotational transform. Heliotron
J has a low shear and the magnetic configuration is very sensitive to the plasma pressure effect. In addition, since theeffective toroidicity is not small, the Shafranov shift is large
and the plasma shape is changed for finite β equilibria.
Recently, finite β equilibria of Heliotron J plasma are studied
by HINT [2] and PIES [3] codes. By using these codes, it
was found that flux surfaces are broken by the magnetic
island [4,5]. However, those study were based on the currentfree equilibrium.
In recent Heliotron J experiments, the net toroidal currents are observed by the Rogowski coil [6]. These currents
consist of the bootstrap, Ohkawa and electron cyclotron heating (ECH) currents. Effects of these currents on MHD equilibrium are very important, because properties of MHD equilibrium are strongly influenced by these currents.
In this paper, we study MHD equilibrium of Heliotron J
plasmas more extensively. In particular, we investigate thegeneration of how to maintain good flux surfaces for thefinite β equilibrium. This paper is organized as follows. InSec. 2, the numerical scheme of the HINT code is reviewed
briefly. In Sec. 3, we study finite β equilibria of the standard
configuration in Heliotron J configuration. In addition, theeffects of the vertical field and the net plasma currents are

2. Numerical scheme of HINT code
HINT code is a three-dimensional equilibrium calculation code based on the timedependent relaxation method,which uses non-orthogonal helical coordinates (u1, u2, u3).
On this coordinate, the calculation is performed in following
steps.
The first step (step-A) is a relaxation process to satisfy
the condition B·∇p = 0. The relaxed pressure on a grid isgiven by the averaged pressure;∫ pdl/Bp~−p=,∫ dl/B(1)which started from a grid point and uses it as update pressure
on its grid. However, for low shear stellarator, field lines
must be traced very long to obtained the relaxed pressure distribution and the computational time is consuming in thispart. In order to resolve this technical problem, we introduce
improved scheme of the pressure relaxation. The detailed
description of the numerical scheme is referred to ref. [4].
The next step (B-process) is a relaxation of the magnetic
field under the plasma pressure distribution is fixed. This
process solves the time evolution of dissipative equations asfollows;

Corresponding author’s e-mail: suzuki@center.iae.kyoto-u.ac.jp1496©2004 by The Japan Society of Plasma
Science and Nuclear Fusion ResearchSuzuki Y. et al., MHD Equilibrium of Heliotron J Plasmas∂v∂t∂B= − fC[∇p − ( j − j0) × B],

near a coil. By introducing fC, the propagation velocity is uniform in the computational region and the CFL condition issatisfied.
The final equilibrium state is solved by these process
iteratively until dv/dt → 0 and dB/dt → 0.

(2)

〈 j·B〉net ⎤⎧⎡⎧
= ∇ × ⎨v × B − η ⎢ j − j0 − B⎨,〈B2〉 ⎥⎦⎩∂t⎩⎣(3)µ0 j = ∇ × B(4)3. Effects of net plasma currents on MHDequilibrium

where j0 is the external coil current. Brackets 〈…〉 indicatesthe flux surface average and B〈 j·B〉ne t/B2 is the net plasma
current like Ohmic and neoclassical currents. The dissipative
parameter η is assumed to be constant for equilibrium calculation. The factor fC as,⎧1fC = ⎨2⎩ (BC / |B|)

for |B| ≤ BC
for |B| > BCThe ‘standard configuration’ of Heliotron J plasma isshown in Fig. 1. This configuration is the fundamental configuration in actual experiment. Radial profiles of the rotational transform and the magnetic well are also plotted. The
profile of the rotational transform is flat (t ~ 0.55) and themagnetic well exists at the vacuum. Nested flux surfaces aremaintained to edge region.
Poincaré plots of a finite pressure equilibrium for 〈β〉 =0.4 % are shown in Fig. 2. The initial distribution of the plasma pressure are specified to p = p0(1 − s2)2, where s is thenormalized toroidal flux. The chain of magnetic islands isgenerated by the resonance 4/7 (~ 0.57), because the rotational transform t on the axis is increased by the Shafranov shift.

(5)

is calculated on all grid points, where |B| is the strength of thefield and BC is a critical value of the field strength.If there isa coil in the computiation region, the Courant-FriedrichsLevy vondition (CFL conditiion) is very sever near a coil,becase the Alfvén velocity is very fast due to the strong fieldFig. 2 Poincaré plots and radial profiles for finite β equilibria( 〈 β 〉 = 0.4 %) with different pressure profiles areshown corresponding to Fig. 1. Flux surfaces are plotted for the broad pressure profile. The profile for thevacuum is also plotted for comparison. R = 1.32 line
indicates the position of the axis for the vacuum and t= 0.571 line indicates n/m = 4/7.

Fig. 1 Poincaré plots and radial profiles of the standard configuration are plotted. Flux surfaces are plotted at Mφ= π. The rotational transform and the magnetic wellare plotted as the function of the major radius R atMφ = θ = 0.

2497Suzuki Y. et al., MHD Equilibrium of Heliotron J Plasmas

These islands are grown due to the increased β. Profiles of
the rotational transform with different pressure profiles arealso shown. For the peaked pressure profile, since theShafranov shift is large, t on the axis is increased as compared with the broad profile. However, the magnetic shear islarge at t = 4/7 and the width of islands isnot increased.
For Heliotron J configuration, the magnetic island isgenerated by the resonance of the rational surface, because
the rotational transform is changed due to the Shafranovshift. If the rotational transform can be controlled by somekind method, the magnetic island can be suppressed. One ofpossibilities is the using the net plasma currents. In Heliotron
J experiment, the net plasma currents (~ ±3 kA) are observedby the diagnostic of the magnetic loops. By using these currents, it has possibility to control the rotational transform.
The net plasma currents are driven by the neoclassicaleffects. If we would like to estimate these currents consistently, it is required to calculate the neoclassical transport.
However, for helical system plasmas, it is difficult to estimate the neoclassical current consistently. Therefore, in thisstudy, we study equilibria with the net plasma current prescribed to a profile as the function of the toroidal flux.
Profiles of the current density in this study are shown as follows;

j = 2(1 − s4)2,
j = (1 − s)8,
j = 60(1 − s2)s2,

0.2
0.1
Z

0.0
-0.1
-0.2
-0.3
0.9 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3
R

rotational transform

0.62
0.60

(6a)
(6b)
(6c)

where s is the normalized toroidal flux.
In Fig. 3, Poincaré plots and profiles of the rotationaltransform for equilibria with the net toroidal currents areshown. The rotational transform for the current-free case isalso plotted for comparison. The volume averaged beta 〈β〉 is
0.4 % and the net toroidal current is fixed to 2 kA in thedirection of ‘negative’. The rotational transform on the axis isdecreased and the Shafranov shift is hardly changed by thecurrent. For the peaked current profile, the rotational transform becomes below t = 4/7. In Poincaré plots, good flux
surfaces are maintained. However, high order rational surface
n/m = 12/22 are shown and other rational surface will be generated for higher-β. These are increased due to the β value
and the edge region is ergodized by these surfaces. For othertwo profiles, since the change of the rotational transform isvery small, the magnetic island is not suppressed. On theother hand, for ‘positive’ current, the rotational transform on
the axis is increased and the position of the resonance 4/7
moves to outside surfaces. For the broad and hollow profiles,
the width of the island is slightly increased as compared withthe current-free equilibrium. However, for the peaked current
profile, since the magnetic shear is strong at the resonance
4/7, the width of islands is suppressed. The Shafranov shift ishardly changed as well as the negative current.
For analyses of the bootstrap current for helical system
plasmas, the SPBSC code [7] is used on the boozer coordinates in many cases. By combining VMEC and SPBSC code,
the equilibrium with self-consistent bootstrap current can beobtained iteratively. Weplan the study of the equilibrium
including self-consistent bootstrap current by the above men-0.30.64

paeked profile
broad plofile
hollow profile

current-freebroad current profile
peaked current profile
hollow current profile

0.58
0.56
0.54
0.52
0.50
1.30

1.35

1.40

1.45

1.50

1.55

RFig. 3 Poincaré plots and radial profiles for finite β equilibria(〈β〉 = 0.4%) with different current density profiles areshown corresponding to Fig. 1. Flux surfaces are plotted for a profile of the peaked current density.Theprofile for the current-free case is also plotted forcomparison. R = 1.32 line indicates the position of theaxis for the vacuum and t = 0.571 line indicates n/m =4/7.

Fig. 4 Spectra of dominant components on the Boozer coordinates. Points indicate spectrum obtained from converged HINT equilibrium and lines indicate spectrum
from VMEC. Both results are consistent.

3498

Suzuki Y. et al., MHD Equilibrium of Heliotron J Plasmas

tioned scheme. As a preliminary study, we construct theboozer coordinates using the vacuum field as a very low-βequilibrium. In order to construct the coordinate, we adopt
the scheme by Boozer et al. [8]. Figure 4 shows dominantcomponents on the boozer coordinates. Same spectra
obtained from VMEC and NEWBOZ codes are also shownfor comparison. Both results are in good agreement.
However, our code can not yet construct the boozer coordinate of the equilibrium with islands or stochastic regions
automatically. We will resolve this difficulty using ‘quasimagnetic coordinates’ [3].

experiments, the currents driven by the neutral beam injection (NBI) are observed and the profile of the current density
is expected to become the peaked profile. From this study,
under realistic β, possibility of generation of good flux surfaces is found. In addition, as a preliminary study of the bootstrap current calculation by the SPBSC code, we construct
the boozer coordinate based on a HINT equilibrium.
Generated harmonics is consistent to harmonics obtained by
the VMEC code. Studies of the equilibrium with the bootstrap current are now in progress.

Acknowledgment
4. Summary

This work was done in the program in the 21st century
of “Establishment of COE on Sustainable-Energy System”
from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science.

Using HINT, we study properties of MHD equilibrium
for the realistic β equilibrium. The magnetic island ofHeliotron J plasmas is generated by the resonance of therational surface, because the rotational transform reaches theresonant surface by the Shafranov shift. In order to generate
good flux surfaces for finite β, effects of the net plasma current are studied under the condition which has the current
density profile prescribed to the function of s. For equilibria
with the net toroidal current, the Shafranov shift is hardly
changed by the current but the rotational transform ischanged. For the negative current with the peaked current
profile, the rotational transform avoids the resonance 4/7.
However, a high order rational surface appeared. In actualReferences
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4499

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