Generation of the sheared radial electric field by a magnetic island structure

Abstract

The effect of the presence of a magnetic island structure on the am bipolar radial electric field is studied in the context of the belt island model. It is shown that the sheared radial electric field region exists on the island position. Depending on the model parameters, the single (ion root) or multiple (one ion and two electron roots) solutions for the radial electric field are obtained at different radial positions. The radially non-local treatment is developed proposing the steady-state plasma conditions. The numerical calculations show that the diffusion of the radial electric field is significant only near the island boundaries. As a result the discontinuities in the am bipolar electric field profile are smoothed.