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.

*Work performed at the Basic Plasma Science Facility, which is funded by the US DoE and NSF

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