Searcharxiv⌕ Search

arXiv · 2610.15561

A reduced model for neoclassical transport in non-axisymmetric magnetic configurations

Abstract

A unified framework is proposed to compute a neoclassical equilibrium for tokamaks with non-axisymmetric magnetic perturbations, based on a Hamiltonian description combined with a variational approach that relies on a principle of minimum entropy production. This approach allows for a transparent identification of the respective contributions from different classes of trapped particles in magnetic well minima. Analytic expressions are derived for specific collisionality regimes, and a fast and efficient numerical procedure is devised to compute the entropy production rate. Finding the extremum of the entropy production leads to tractable expressions of transport coefficients that can be computed quickly and efficiently.

Explore related subjects

Keep this discovery

Explore connections, maps & timelines

BibTeXRIS

Y. Ban, X. Garbet, R. Varennes, Z. Qu, K. Lim, Y. Sarazin, A. Ibrahim, Y. C. Tay, B. B. Ang. 2026-10-11. A reduced model for neoclassical transport in non-axisymmetric magnetic configurations. https://arxiv.org/abs/2610.15561

Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.

KEEP EXPLORING

Related papers

Effects of Coulomb Collisions on the Structures of Fast Magnetosonic Shocks

We present fully kinetic particle-in-cell simulations to demonstrate qualitative effects of binary Coulomb collisions on fast magnetosonic shocks. We find that with sufficiently high collisional frequencies, shock rippling and reformation can be inhibited, leading to stationary, laminar shock fronts. We observe that ion-ion collisions disrupt the motion of particles reflected back upstream that is the key for cyclical reformation. Meanwhile, the electron-ion collisions provide a Spitzer resistivity that can dissipate energy from the instability that causes shock rippling. This result helps us understand the role of collisions in laboratory shocks and possibly the outer heliosphere.

physics.plasm-ph↗

Validation of geometric proxies using negative and positive triangularity plasmas with varying elongation on TCV and multi-machine gyrokinetic simulations

Negative Triangularity (NT) tokamak plasmas can achieve H-mode-like confinement while avoiding Edge Localized Modes, making them an attractive reactor scenario. Predicting in which configuration this benefit occurs requires understanding how magnetic geometry controls turbulent transport. Using a set of geometric proxies based on the poloidally averaged magnetic drift velocity, its poloidal variation, and Finite Larmor Radius (FLR) effects, this work validates their predictive power against gyrokinetic simulations and experiments. First, the proxies are used to predict how the relative benefit of NT over Positive Triangularity (PT) evolves with elongation $κ$, forecasting a detrimental effect of NT below $κ\sim0.75$--$0.8$. This prediction is confirmed by linear and nonlinear GENE simulations in both ITG- and TEM-dominated regimes. Additionally, a dedicated experimental elongation scan on TCV shows that NT plasmas at $κ^{\rm LCFS}=1.5$ have $β_N$ and $H_{98y2}$ roughly 1.5 times larger than PT counterparts, while no difference is observed at $κ^{\rm LCFS}=0.95$. The analysis is then extended to realistic ITG-dominated scenarios from DIII-D, AUG, and JET, including up-down asymmetric equilibria where conventional triangularity-based descriptions break down. In all three devices, simulations of NT equilibria exhibit substantially reduced nonlinear heat fluxes relative to PT (factors of 1.8, 1.6, and 2.1, respectively). A systematic swap of geometric coefficients between NT and PT equilibria shows that magnetic drifts and FLR effects are the dominant stabilizing mechanisms across all machines, with parallel dynamics playing a secondary role. These results establish the geometric proxies as reliable, computationally inexpensive predictors of NT transport benefits across diverse shapes and turbulence regimes.

physics.plasm-ph↗

Controlling writhe in stellarator optimization

The writhe of a closed curve measures its coiling, and for a ribbon along it, writhe is the contribution to the linking number not due to twist. In stellarators, large writhe implies large helical excursion and has previously been either an uncontrolled outcome in optimization, or fixed beforehand by the choice of the coordinate system. We present a simple method to target the underlying writhe of the plasma boundary during optimization. Our method calculates writhe and linking number directly from the underlying elliptical boundary of the stellarator. It therefore does not require any properties of the MHD equilibrium solve, such as the true magnetic axis, making it fast to evaluate and smooth to differentiate. Examples for quasi-helically symmetric stellarators show that this target works well in practice.

physics.plasm-ph↗