Plasmoid-mediated reconnection during nonlinear peeling–ballooning edge-localized modes
F. Ebrahimi, A. Bhattacharjee
Abstract
Abstract Plasmoid-mediated reconnection is investigated for nonlinear peeling–ballooning edge-localized modes (P-B ELMs). The formation of current sheets and the transition to 3D current sheet instability is demonstrated through fully nonlinear resistive MHD simulations of P-B ELMs in DIII-D discharges. Large-scale axisymmetric current sheets, as well as small-scale poloidally extended current sheets, are formed as the coherent P-B ELM filaments nonlinearly evolve. It is observed that, at high Lundquist numbers, these current sheets break during a reconnection burst, i.e. a secondary exponential growth of intermediate modes followed by relaxation due to the suppression of P-B drive.
Topics & Concepts
PlasmoidBallooningPhysicsCurrent sheetMagnetic reconnectionMagnetohydrodynamicsInstabilityCurrent (fluid)Kink instabilityNonlinear systemResistive touchscreenPlasmaMechanicsPlasma instabilityTokamakThermodynamicsEngineeringElectrical engineeringQuantum mechanicsMagnetic confinement fusion researchDust and Plasma Wave PhenomenaIonosphere and magnetosphere dynamics