Explosive Ballooning Flux Tubes in Tokamaks

Tokamak stability to, potentially explosive, `ballooning' displacements of elliptical magnetic flux tubes is examined in large aspect ratio equilibrium. Above a critical pressure gradient the energy stored in the plasma may be lowered by finite (but not infinitesimal) displacements of such tubes (metastability). Above a higher pressure gradient, the linear stability boundary, such tubes are linearly and nonlinearly unstable. The flux tube displacement can be of the order of the pressure gradient scale length. Plasma transport from displaced flux tubes may result in rapid loss of confinement.Comment: 4 pages, 6 figure

PIXE and ToF-SIMS analysis of streaker samplers filters

This paper presents methodological innovations introduced in the characterisation of urban aerosol collected in Italy in a recent campaign. Two complementary ion beam analysis (IBA) techniques were used to analyse Nuclepore filters used in continuous streaker samplers to collect airborne particles in four Italian towns. Na to Pb elemental concentrations were obtained by particle induced X-ray emission (PIXE), while time of flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) produced, on the same samples, time trends for several elements and molecular fragments. In addition, light attenuation measurements were used as a tracer for black carbon. The data produced by these three techniques was merged into a unique data set to address the characterisation of particulate matter sources. Correlations between elemental concentration trends (PIXE) and relative trends for molecular fragments (ToF-SIMS) and black carbon (light attenuation) have been studied by cluster and principal component analysis

Research notes: Characterization of several abnormal nodulation reactions in soybeans

Several abnormal nodulation reactions in soybeans are known. These range from a complete lack of nodules, caused by the non-nodulating gene (Williams and Lynch, 1954) to plants with normal-appearing nodules (Vest et al., 1973), but low nitrogen fixation as exemplified by the \u27Peking\u27-strain T23 combination. The purpose of the study reported here was threefold

Research notes: Inheritance of abnormal nodulation between Rhizobium japonicum strain 62 and the soybean variety Amsoy 71

To date, four genes are known that result in abnormal nodulation in soybeans. The gene rj1 (Williams and Lynch, 1954; Caldwell, 1966) prevents nodulation with almost all Rhizobium japonicum strains. The genes Rj2 (Caldwell, 1966 ) in combination with strains b7 and bl4 of the 3-24-44 serogroup and bl22 of the 122 serogroup, Rj3 (Vest, 1970) in combination with strain 33, and Rj4 (Vest and Caldwell, 1972) in combination with strain 61 all result in chlorotic plants with abnormal nodulation

Phase transition in a supersymmetric axion model

In a supersymmetric axion model where the scale for both supersymmetry breaking and Peccei-Quinn symmetry breaking is around $10^{11}$ GeV, we find that there is a reasonable parameter space for a strongly first order phase transition at the scale.Comment: 5 pages, 1 figur

Nonlinear Stability and Saturation of Ballooning Modes in Tokamaks

The theory of tokamak stability to nonlinear "ballooning" displacements of elliptical magnetic flux tubes is presented. Above a critical pressure profile the energy stored in the plasma may be lowered by finite (but not infinitesimal) displacements of such tubes (metastability). Above a higher pressure profile, the linear stability boundary, such tubes are linearly and nonlinearly unstable. The predicted saturated flux tube displacement can be of the order of the pressure gradient scale length. Plasma transport from these displaced flux tubes may explain the rapid loss of confinement in some experiments

Orbital liquid in three dimensional Mott insulator: LaTiO3LaTiO_3

We present a theory of spin and orbital states in Mott insulator $LaTiO_3$. The spin-orbital superexchange interaction between $d^1(t_{2g})$ ions in cubic crystal suffers from a pathological degeneracy of orbital states at classical level. Quantum effects remove this degeneracy and result in the formation of the coherent ground state, in which the orbital moment of $t_{2g}$ level is fully quenched. We find a finite gap for orbital excitations. Such a disordered state of local degrees of freedom on unfrustrated, simple cubic lattice is highly unusual. Orbital liquid state naturally explains observed anomalies of $LaTiO_3$.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figure

Understanding the effect resonant magnetic perturbations have on ELMs

All current estimations of the energy released by type I ELMs indicate that, in order to ensure an adequate lifetime of the divertor targets on ITER, a mechanism is required to decrease the amount of energy released by an ELM, or to eliminate ELMs altogether. One such amelioration mechanism relies on perturbing the magnetic field in the edge plasma region, either leading to more frequent, smaller ELMs (ELM mitigation) or ELM suppression. This technique of Resonant Magnetic Perturbations (RMPs) has been employed to suppress type I ELMs at high collisionality/density on DIII-D, ASDEX Upgrade, KSTAR and JET and at low collisionality on DIII-D. At ITER-like collisionality the RMPs enhance the transport of particles or energy and keep the edge pressure gradient below the 2D linear ideal MHD critical value that would trigger an ELM, whereas at high collisionality/density the type I ELMs are replaced by small type II ELMs. Although ELM suppression only occurs within limitied operational ranges, ELM mitigation is much more easily achieved. The exact parameters that determine the onset of ELM suppression are unknown but in all cases the magnetic perturbations produce 3D distortions to the plasma and enhanced particle transport. The incorporation of these 3D effects in codes will be essential in order to make quantitative predictions for future devices.Comment: 32 pages, 9 figure