Mechanism for Major Disruptions in Tokamaks

We propose a mechanism for the major disruption in tokamaks that involves the nonlinear destabilization of tearing modes by the (m=2) (n=1) tearing mode, where m and n denote the poloidal and toroidal mode numbers, respectively. The magnetic islands generated can extend across the plasma cross section. For resistivities of the order of magnitude of these in TOSCA and LT-3, the time scale for their appearance is consistent with the time for the major disruption.