UNIFIED THEORY OF RESONANT EXCITATION OF KINETIC BALLOONING MODES BY ENERGETIC IONS AND ALPHA-PARTICLES IN TOKAMAKS

A complete theory of wave-particle interactions is presented whereby both circulating and trapped energetic ions can destabilize kinetic ballooning modes in tokamaks. Four qualitatively different types of resonances, involving wave-precessional drift, wave-transit, wave-bounce, and precessional drift-bounce interactions, are identified, and the destabilization potential of each is assessed. Implications of the theory for present and future-generation fusion experiments are discussed. In particular, it is suggested that these modes may be the dominant collective alpha-particle instability in reactorlike environments.