Alfv\'enic instabilities driven by runaways in fusion plasmas

TL;DR

This paper investigates how runaway ions and electrons in fusion plasmas can excite Alfvénic instabilities, which in turn influence runaway particle loss and impact tokamak disruption dynamics.

Contribution

It introduces the concept that runaway particles can drive Alfvénic instabilities, revealing a new mechanism affecting runaway electron behavior in fusion devices.

Findings

Runaway particles can excite Alfvénic instabilities.

Magnetic perturbations from these modes can enhance runaway loss.

Implications for runaway electron control in tokamaks.

Abstract

Runaway particles can be produced in plasmas with large electric fields. Here we address the possibility that such runaway ions and electrons excite Alfv\'enic instabilities. The magnetic perturbation induced by these modes can enhance the loss of runaways. This may have important implications for the runaway electron beam formation in tokamak disruptions.