Currents in a Tokamak

TL;DR

This paper provides a self-consistent analysis of tokamak currents, showing that the parallel neutralizing current equals the sum of bootstrap and Pfirsch-Schlueter currents, with new expressions relating pressure gradients to flow velocities.

Contribution

It introduces a unified framework for understanding tokamak currents, explicitly relating pressure gradients to flow velocities and total current.

Findings

Parallel neutralizing current equals bootstrap plus Pfirsch-Schlueter currents

Derived expressions relate pressure gradients to flow velocities

Provides a self-consistent analysis of tokamak current structure

Abstract

A self-consistent analysis of the currents in a tokamak yields the result that the parallel neutralizing current is given simply by the sum of currents commonly called the bootstrap current and the Pfirsch-Schlueter current. An expression is given relating the parallel and perpendicular pressure gradient induced species flow velocities to the total current.