The effect of a steady azimuthal field on rotating magnetic field current drive

Abstract

The method of generating steady azimuthal currents in a cylindrical plasma column by means of a rotating magnetic field is investigated numerically and analytically for the case where an external steady azimuthal magnetic field is applied to the plasma. For a plasma of low resistivity, the effect of imposing a strong azimuthal field is a substantial reduction in the amount of current that can be driven. For a resistive plasma the effect is more complicated. In some cases the azimuthal field enhances current drive as has been observed in recent experiments.