Equilibrium rotation in field-reversed configurations

The turbulence that drives anomalous transport in field-reversed configurations (FRCs) is believed to break the otherwise closed magnetic surfaces inside the separatrix. This places electrons in the core of the plasma in electrical contact with those in the periphery. This effect was proposed and investigated in the context of spheromaks [D. D. Ryutov, Phys. Plasmas 14, 022506 (2007)]. The opening up of internal magnetic field lines serves to regulate the electrostatic potential in the interior of the plasma, and in turn drives ion rotation. In effect, “end-shorting,” a well-known phenomenon in the FRC scrape-off layer, also extends into the plasma interior. For conditions relevant to experiments, the ion rotation can be expressed in terms of equilibrium properties (density and temperature gradients) and as such is the “equilibrium” rotation. This theory is incomplete in that it neglects evolving, transport-related effects that modify the equilibrium and, indirectly, the rotation rate. Consequently, the equilibrium rotation theory is only partially successful in predicting experimental results: although it predicts the average rotation well, the estimated degree of rotational shear seems unlikely, especially at late times in the plasma lifetime.