Study of Low-Frequency Core-Edge Coupling in a Tokamak: II. Spatial Channeling & Focusing In Antenna-Driven MHD

TL;DR

This study investigates how low-frequency Alfvénic modes in a tokamak respond to localized antenna driving, revealing insights into core-edge coupling, wave focusing, and mode formation through full MHD simulations.

Contribution

It demonstrates that low-frequency responses can be driven from the edge without core-localized drive and explores wave focusing and mode formation mechanisms in tokamak plasmas.

Findings

Continuum plateaus respond with coherent quasi-modes even when driven remotely.

Inward drive is more efficient than outward drive due to volumetric focusing.

Core responds well at frequencies below the Alfvénic continuum, aiding chirping phenomena.

Abstract

Motivated by evidence for core-edge coupling in the form of double-peaked fishbone-like low-frequency modes ($\lesssim 20\,{\rm kHz}$) in KSTAR, which exhibit synchronized Alfv\'{e}nic activity both in the central core and near the plasma edge [1], we study the nonlocal response of a tokamak plasma in a visco-resistive full MHD simulation model using the code MEGA. The waves are driven by an internal "antenna" that is localized both radially and azimuthally in the poloidal $(R,z)$ plane and has a sinusoidal form $\exp(in\zeta - i\omega t)$ with Fourier mode number $n=\pm 1$ in the toroidal angle $\zeta$ and fixed angular frequency $\omega$ in time $t$. By flattening the safety factor profile $q(r)$ at suitable locations in the minor radius $r$, we created plateaus in the low-frequency Alfv\'{e}n continua that act as wave "receivers". First, we confirm that such continuum plateaus respond with a coherent quasi-mode even when the driving antenna is located at a distant radius. Second, by varying the antenna location, we confirm the expectation of inward drive being more efficient than outward drive, which we attribute to volumetric focusing. Third, we find that the central core also responds well at frequencies below the central Alfv\'{e}nic continuum plateau, which could facilitate chirping. Our results show that a core-localized low-frequency response does not necessarily require core-localized drive nor an exactly matching continuum, but may be driven from the edge and sub-resonantly. It remains to be seen to what extent the examined effects play a role in double-peaked fishbone-like activity. Other possible contributing mechanisms are discussed to motivate further study. Our analyses also elucidate the mode structure formation process, from transients to quasi- or eigenmodes, here in the realm of MHD, and to be followed by a verification study against kinetic models.