Feedback stabilization of resistive wall modes in a tokamak with a double resistive wall

A study is made of the problem of active stabilization of the resistive wall modes in a tokamak with two conducting walls between the plasma column and the stabilizing system. The problem is analyzed for a steady-state configuration (without rotation) in the standard cylindrical approximation under the assumption that the stabilizing system responds instantaneously to a magnetic field perturbation by generating an in-phase signal with the required amplitude.     

Modeling of the feedback stabilization of the resistive wall modes in a tokamak

The problem of feedback stabilization of the resistive wall modes (RWMs) in a tokamak is discussed. An equilibrium configuration with the parameters accepted for the stationary ITER scenario 4A is considered as the main scenario. The effect of the vacuum chamber's shape on the plasma stability is studied. Ideal MHD stability is analyzed numerically by using the KINX code. It is shown that, in a tokamak with the parameters of the designed T-15M tokamak, RWMs can be stabilized by a conventional stabilizing system made of framelike coils. However, the maximum possible gain in β in such a tokamak is found to be smaller than that in ITER. It is shown that, in this case, a reduction in the plasma—wall gap width by 10 cm allows one to substantially increase the β limit, provided that RWMs are stabilized by active feedback.     

Error field amplification near the stability boundary of the modes interacting with a conducting wall

The effect is considered of the amplification of an external resonant error field near the stability boundary of the so-called resistive wall modes observed in the DIII-D tokamak. The analysis is performed in a standard cylindrical approximation. The model is based on Maxwell’s equations and Ohm’s law; therefore, the results of the analysis are valid for any large-scale modes interacting with a conducting wall. In contrast to earlier approaches, the model considers the resonant field amplification as a dynamic effect. It is shown that, when the effect is the strongest, the stationary solutions proposed earlier are inapplicable. The problem of plasma response to a probing pulse of the resonant field of a given amplitude and duration is analyzed. The relationships obtained explain the basic features of the observed phenomena in the DIII-D tokamak and allow direct experimental verification.     

Neural adaptive control for vibration suppression in composite fin-tip of aircraft

In this paper, we present a neural adaptive control scheme for active vibration suppression of a composite aircraft fin tip. The mathematical model of a composite aircraft fin tip is derived using the finite element approach. The finite element model is updated experimentally to reflect the natural frequencies and mode shapes very accurately. Piezo-electric actuators and sensors are placed at optimal locations such that the vibration suppression is a maximum. Model-reference direct adaptive neural network control scheme is proposed to force the vibration level within the minimum acceptable limit. In this scheme, Gaussian neural network with linear filters is used to approximate the inverse dynamics of the system and the parameters of the neural controller are estimated using Lyapunov based update law. In order to reduce the computational burden, which is critical for real-time applications, the number of hidden neurons is also estimated in the proposed scheme. The global asymptotic stability of the overall system is ensured using the principles of Lyapunov approach. Simulation studies are carried-out using sinusoidal force functions of varying frequency. Experimental results show that the proposed neural adaptive control scheme is capable of providing significant vibration suppression in the multiple bending modes of interest. The performance of the proposed scheme is better than the H(infinity) control scheme.     

Effect of the magnetic field curvature on magnetic islands in tokamaks

The effect of the magnetic field curvature on magnetic islands in a tokamak is analyzed. It is demonstrated that the original investigation of this effect by Kotschenreuther et al. (1985) is inconsistent: on the one hand, the authors made the correct assumption that this is an ideal effect and, on the other hand, they described it in terms of the parameters characteristic of the “resistive ordering” approach, which is incompatible with the ideal approximation. More recent studies of the magnetic curvature effect have produced further ambiguities; as a result, a branch of the theory of magnetic islands has arisen that is based on the supposition that the effect under discussion can be described in terms of the Glasser-Greene-Johnson parameter D_R. This branch is shown to be erroneous, because the parameter D_R describes the plasma response to magnetic field perturbations on spatial scales of about the dimension of the linear resistive layer, while the characteristic spatial scale of the magnetic islands is much longer. It is concluded that the correct theory developed here for the magnetic curvature effect makes more optimistic predictions about its stabilizing role.     

Does direction of induced electric field or current provide a test of mechanism involved in nerve regeneration?

We suggest an experimental comparison of two directions for applying the time-varying magnetic fields which have been found to speed spontaneous regeneration of injured peripheral nerves and in attempts to repair spinal cord injuries. Time-varying magnetic fields induce currents in a plane perpendicular to the magnetic field direction. The lower conductivity of the spinal cord's sheath (dura matter) or of the myelin sheath of peripheral nerves would seem to confine the induced electric fields and currents to the spinal cord or nerve itself. The proposed comparison could allow choosing between two possible modes of action of the fields: (1) Magnetically-induced electric fields or currents may be encouraging ion flow or otherwise helping enzyme, channel or other interactions at the cell membrane, as is thought to be the case in field stimulation of healing in bone. This mechanism should be independent of field direction. (2) Work in developing organisms and with fields applied to nerve cells in vitro has shown that neurite growth is guided parallel to both endogenous and external electric fields. This mechanism would be effective when induced electric fields are parallel, but not when they are perpendicular to the nerve. Any experimental test should seek to produce as close as possible to the same induced current intensity with both field directions. Possible confounding factors, as well as breakdowns in the assumptions of the simple model presented here, would have to be considered. This proposal was motivated by a recent report in which the authors listed a changed field direction as one of several possible reasons for an unsuccessful experiment.     

Stabilization of ballooning modes by nonparaxial cells

An analysis is made of the effect of high-curvature stabilizing nonparaxial elements (cells) on the MHD plasma stability in open confinement systems and in confinement systems with closed magnetic field lines. It is shown that the population of particles trapped in such cells has a stabilizing effect not only on convective (flute) modes but also on ballooning modes, which govern the maximum possible β value. In the kinetic approach, which distinguishes between the effects of trapped and passing particles, the maximum possible β values consistent with stability can be much higher than those predicted by the MHD model.     

Analytical and numerical treatment of resistive drift instability in a plasma slab

An analytic approach combining the effect of equilibrium diamagnetic flows and the finite ionsound gyroradius associated with electron?ion decoupling and kinetic Alfvén wave dispersion is derived to study resistive drift instabilities in a plasma slab. Linear numerical computations using the NIMROD code are performed with cold ions and hot electrons in a plasma slab with a doubly periodic box bounded by two perfectly conducting walls. A linearly unstable resistive drift mode is observed in computations with a growth rate that is consistent with the analytic dispersion relation. The resistive drift mode is expected to be suppressed by magnetic shear in unbounded domains, but the mode is observed in numerical computations with and without magnetic shear. In the slab model, the finite slab thickness and the perfectly conducting boundary conditions are likely to account for the lack of suppression.     

Sensitive magnetic sensors without cooling in biomedical engineering.

Magnetic field sensors are used in various fields of technology. In the past few years a large variety of magnetic field sensors has been established and the performance of these sensors has been improved enormously. In this review article all recent developments in the area of sensitive magnetic field sensory analysis (resolution better than 1 nT) are presented and examined regarding their parameters. This is mainly done under the aspect of application fields in biomedical engineering. A comparison of all commercial and available sensitive magnetic field sensors shows current and prospective ranges of application.     

Configuration analysis and optimization on multipolar Galatea trap

Multipolar Galatea magnetic trap simulation model was established with the finite element simulation software COMSOL Multiphysics. Analyses about the magnetic section configuration show that better magnetic configuration should make more plasma stay in the weak magnetic field rather than the annular magnetic shell field. Then an optimization model was established with axial electromagnetic force, weak magnetic field area and average magnetic mirror ratio as the optimization goals and with the currents of myxines as design variables. Select appropriate weight coefficients and get optimization results by applying genetic algorithm. Results show that the superiority of the target value of typical application parameters, including the average magnetic mirror can reduce more than 5%, the weak magnetic field area can increase at least 65%, at the same time, axial electromagnetic force acting on the outer myxines can be reduced to less than 50 N. Finally, the results were proved by COMSOL Multiphysics and the results proved the optimized magnetic trap configuration with more plasma in the weak magnetic field can reduce the plasma diffusion velocity and is more conducive for the constraint of plasma.     

Theory of transverse surface electromagnetic waves propagating along a plasma-metal boundary with a finite radius of curvature in a magnetic field

The spectra of electromagnetic waves propagating perpendicular to the axis of a plasma-filled metal waveguide in a magnetic field are studied with allowance for the effects exerted upon the wave frequency by the radial plasma density variation and by the emission of waves through a narrow axial slit in a waveguide wall. The case of wave propagation along the boundary between a plasma and a cylindrical metal waveguide wall with a periodically varying radius of curvature is also considered. The electromagnetic properties of the plasma are described by a dielectric tensor in the hydrodynamic approximation. The spatial distribution of the wave field is determined by the method of successive approximations. Results are presented from both analytical and numerical investigations. Analytical expressions for the corrections to the wave frequency due to the emission of the wave energy from the waveguide and due to the slight corrugation of the waveguide wall are obtained. The rates of wave damping due to the emission of the wave energy through a narrow axial slit and due to collisions between the plasma particles are found. The correction to the frequency that comes from the periodic variation of the radius of curvature of the plasma surface is calculated to within terms proportional to the square of the small parameter describing the azimuthal corrugation of the waveguide wall. The effect of the radial plasma density variation on the dispersion of the surface modes is examined both analytically and numerically.     

Hybrid Transverse Magneto-Thermoelectric Cooling in Artificially Tilted Multilayers

In artificially tilted multilayers comprising two different conductors that are alternately and obliquely stacked, transverse thermoelectric conversion occurs, in which charge and heat currents are interconverted in the orthogonal direction. Although transverse thermoelectric conversion also occurs in homogeneous materials as an intrinsic transport phenomenon owing to the effects of magnetic fields, magnetization, and spins on conduction carriers, such magneto-thermoelectric effects are investigated independently of thermoelectrics for artificially tilted multilayers. Here, this study shows that the synergy of these different principles improves the performance of transverse thermoelectric conversion. Using lock-in thermography techniques, transverse thermoelectric conversion processes are visualized in artificially tilted multilayers and the experiments clarify how nonuniform charge currents are converted into orthogonal heat currents. Through the measurements of temperature change under magnetic fields, the contributions of the magneto-thermoelectric effects are quantified in the artificially tilted multilayers and magnetically enhanced hybrid transverse thermoelectric cooling is demonstrated. By replacing one of the conductors in the multilayer with permanent magnets, the same functionality is obtained even in the absence of magnetic fields, paving the way for the creation of “thermoelectric permanent magnets” that exhibit efficient transverse thermoelectric conversion together with spontaneous magnetization. This study provides a new material design guideline for transverse thermoelectrics.     

3D Magnetic Holes in Collisionless Plasmas

Recent multispacecraft observations in the Earth’s magnetosphere have revealed an abundance of magnetic holes—localized magnetic field depressions. These magnetic holes are characterized by the plasma pressure enhancement and strongly localized currents flowing around the hole boundaries. There are several numerical and analytical models describing 2D configurations of magnetic holes, but the 3D distribution of magnetic fields and electric currents is studied poorly. Such a 3D magnetic field configuration is important for accurate investigation of charged particle dynamics within magnetic holes. Moreover, the 3D distribution of currents can be used for distant probing of magnetic holes in the magnetosphere. In this study, a 3D magnetic hole model using the single-fluid approximation and a spatial scale hierarchy with the distinct separation of gradients is developed. It is shown that such 3D holes can be obtained as a generalization of 1D models with the plasma pressure distribution adopted from the kinetic approach. The proposed model contains two magnetic field components and field-aligned currents. The magnetic field line configuration resembles the magnetic trap where hot charged particles bounce between mirror points. However, the approximation of isotropic pressure results in a constant plasma pressure along magnetic field lines, and the proposed magnetic hole model does not confine plasma along the field direction.     

Model-based identification of motion sensor placement for tracking retraction and elongation of the tongue

Electromagnetic articulography (EMA) is designed to track facial and tongue movements. In practice, the EMA sensors for tracking the movement of the tongue’s surface are placed heuristically. No recommendation exists. Within this paper, a model-based approach providing a mathematical analysis and a computational-based recommendation for the placement of sensors, which is based on the tongue’s envelope of movement, is proposed. For this purpose, an anatomically detailed Finite Element (FE) model of the tongue has been employed to determine the envelope of motion for retraction and elongation using a forward simulation. Two optimality criteria have been proposed to identify a set of optimal sensor locations based on the pre-computed envelope of motion. The first one is based on the assumption that locations exhibiting large displacements contain the most information regarding the tongue’s movement and are less susceptible to measurement errors. The second one selects sensors exhibiting each the largest displacements in the anterior-posterior, superior-inferior, medial-lateral and overall direction. The quality of the two optimality criteria is analysed based on their ability to deduce from the respective sensor locations the corresponding muscle activation parameters of the relevant muscle fibre groups during retraction and elongation by solving the corresponding inverse problem. For this purpose, a statistical analysis has been carried out, in which sensor locations for two different modes of deformation have been subjected to typical measurement errors. Then, for tongue retraction and elongation, the expectation value, the standard deviation, the averaged bias and the averaged coefficient of variation have been computed based on 41 different error-afflicted sensor locations. The results show that the first optimality criteria is superior to the second one and that the averaged bias and averaged coefficient of variation decrease when the number of sensors is increased from 2, 4 to 6 deployable sensors.     

Effect of magnetic field on excitation propagation in a nerve fiber innervating a blood vessel]

It was shown that external magnetic field indirectly affects the blood flow due to the increments of local currents in the surroundings of action potentials that propagate along nerve fibres innervating the smooth muscle cells of the vessel wall. This reduces their tension due to nonconcurrent propagation of excitation in space and to changes in the frequency of action potentials. The dependence of this effect on the electrophysiological parameters is estimated.     

Excessive magnetic field flux density distribution from overhead isolated powerline conductors due to neutral line current

Overhead isolated powerline conductors (hereinafter: “OIPLC”) are the most compact form for distributing low voltage currents. From the known physics of magnetic field emission from 3-phase power lines, it is expected that excellent symmetry of the 120° shifted phase currents and where compact configuration of the 3-phase+neutral line exist, the phase current vectorial summation of the magnetic field flux density (MFFD) is expected to be extremely low. However, despite this estimation, an unexpectedly very high MFFD was found in at least three towns in Israel. This paper explains the reasons leading to high MFFD emissions from compact OIPLC and the proper technique to fix it. Analysis and measurement results had led to the failure hypothsis of neutral line poor connection design and poor grounding design of the HV–LV utility transformers. The paper elaborates on the low MFFD exposure level setup by the Israeli Environmental Protection Office which adopted a rather conservative precaution principal exposure level (2 mG averaged over 24 h).     

Detection and manipulation of biomolecules by magnetic carriers

The detection and manipulation of single molecules on a common platform would be of great interest for basic research of biological or chemical systems. A promising approach is the application of magnetic carriers. The principles are demonstrated in this contribution. It is shown that paramagnetic beads can be detected by highly sensitive magnetoresistive sensors yielding a purely electronic signal. Different configurations are discussed. The capability of the sensors to detect even single markers is demonstrated by a model experiment. In addition, the paramagnetic beads can be used as carriers for biomolecules. They can be manipulated on-chip via currents running through specially designed line patterns. Thus, magnetic markers in combination with magnetoresistive sensors are a promising choice for future integrated lab-on-a-chip systems.     

Local synthesis of 3D magnetic surfaces

Local synthesis of nested 3D toroidal magnetic surfaces is carried out on the basis of the general theory of surfaces by using magnetic coordinates (generally unknown a priori). An equilibrium magnetic surface is calculated by specifying two functions on the surface (the absolute value of the magnetic field and the distance to the nearest magnetic surface) and three parameters (the rotational transform, pressure gradient, and poloidal current). The choice of the parameters is restricted by the requirement that the surface should be closed toroidally. A method of synthesis of a closed magnetic surface is proposed when two functions—the absolute value of the magnetic field and the major radius—are specified. A set of harmonics of a new type of poloidally preudosymmetric configuration (a toroidal mirror with a large mirror ratio and small rotational transform) is obtained.     

Suppression of the rayleigh-taylor instability of a low-density imploding liner by a longitudinal magnetic field

The possibility of suppressing the Rayleigh-Taylor instability in a low-density plasma, Π=ω _pi ² Δ²/c²?1 (where Δ is the thickness of the current-carrying slab), is investigated for the case in which the electron currents are much higher than the ion currents. The suppression of this instability in an imploding cylindrical liner by an axial external magnetic field \(B_{0z} \) is considered. It is shown that, for the instability to be suppressed, the external magnetic field \(B_{0z} \) should be stronger than the magnetic field B_0θ of the current flowing through the liner.     

General properties of the interaction between animals and ELF electric fields

An analysis is given of the interaction between extremely low-frequency (ELF) electric fields and animals of arbitrary body shape. This analysis is based on three approximations which are valid in the ELF range: In living tissues, capacitive (displacement) currents are negligible compared to conduction currents; effects resulting from the finite velocity of propagation of electromagnetic fields are negligible; skin effect in living tissues is negligible. Major conclusions of the analysis are: (a) The electric field outside the body, the induced charge on the surface of the body, and the total current crossing any section through the body (eg, through the neck or limbs) are completely determined by the characteristics of the applied ELF electric field, the shape of the body, its location relative to ground and other conductors, and any conduction currents from the body to ground or other conductors. (b) All of the quantities in (a) can be measured using conducting animal models. (c) The magnitudes of the electric field outside the body and the induced charge density on the surface of the body are independent of frequency, in the ELF range, when the body is either insulated from or shorted to ground (and any other conductors in the system). (d) The only quantities affected by the electrical properties of the tissues comprising the body are the current density and electric field inside the body. (e) The electric field outside and inside a body will be unchanged by a scaled change in its size.