RESISTIVE BALLOONING STABILITY OF ASDEX EQUILIBRIA

Experiments on the maximum attainable beta values of ASDEX discharges show that the limits for this parameter lie in the range of theoretical predictions. In a previous publication a theoretical identification of the corresponding instabilities has been attempted. No signifcant correlation with global plasma instabilities could be found, but the two-dimensional MHD equilibria calculated on the basis of ASDEX experimental parameters turned out to be close to the marginal ideal ballooning limit. In the work presented here, the previous investigation on resistive ballooning modes is extended.