Full Wave Simulations of Alfven Waves in the Large Plasma Device

POSTER

Abstract

A full wave solver is used to simulate the propagation of shear Alfven waves in the Large Plasma Device (LAPD). The Petra-M code is used to directly solve Maxwell’s equations with realistic antenna and experimental geometry, that is, spatially varying density and magnetic field under the cold plasma approximation. Petra-M is a finite element analysis software developed using the MFEM partial differential equation solver library. Simulations of the LAPD were done to investigate antenna coupling, propagation of shear waves into axial gradients of the Alfven speed, and generation and propagation of shear waves in multi-ion species plasmas.

Authors

  • Kunal Sanwalka

    University of California, Los Angeles

  • T.A. Carter

    University of California, Los Angeles, UCLA, Basic Plasma Science Facility at UCLA

  • Stephen Vincena

    UCLA, University of California, Los Angeles

  • Jeffrey Robertson

    University of California, Los Angeles

  • John Wright

    Massachusetts Institute of Technology, MIT Plasma Science and Fusion Center, MIT-PSFC

  • Syun'ichi Shiraiwa

    MIT, PSFC, MIT, MIT Plasma Science and Fusion Center, MIT PSFC, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

  • Nicola Bertelli

    PPPL, Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory