Island bootstrap current modification of the nonlinear dynamics of the tearing mode

Abstract

A kinetic theory for the nonlinear evolution of a magnetic island in a collisionless plasma confined in a toroidal magnetic system is presented. An asymptotic analysis of a Grad–Shafranov equation including neoclassical effects such as island bootstrap current defines an equation for the time dependence of the island width. Initially, the island bootstrap current strongly influences the island evolution. As the island surpasses a certain critical width the effect of the island bootstrap current diminishes and the island grows at the Rutherford rate. For current profiles such that Δ’<0 the island bootstrap current saturates the island.