ALFVEN RESONANCE EFFECTS ON MAGNETOSONIC MODES IN LARGE TOKAMAKS

The theory of Alfvén resonance effects on the wave modes of a tokamak is extended beyond the incompressible magnetohydrodynamic model to include finite-(ωΩi) effects and compressibility. The discrete spectrum of compressional Alfvén waves consists of a sequence of frequencies with finite damping decrements resulting from the Alfvén resonance. The finite-frequency effects can cause the damping to almost vanish. This permits Alfvén resonance heating via high-Q eigenmodes in large tokamaks. © 1979 The American Physical Society.