Impact of negative triangularity plasma shaping on the n = 0 resistive wall mode in a tokamak

Abstract

The axisymmetric (n = 0) resistive wall mode instability is numerically investigated for the negative triangularity plasma shape, which has shown several benefits in terms of improved confinement time and fusion engineering. To evaluate the shape effects, we modified a MHD instability code AVSTAB (Axisymmetric Vertical STABility), which calculates the marginally controllable elongation in a simplified feedback capability parameter. The plasma characteristics (poloidal beta and internal inductance) as well as the geometric effects (wall shape and plasma location) are important to determine the instability. In contrast to positive triangularity, the higher poloidal beta provides more instability drive for the negative triangularity because of the higher Shafranov shift and the higher elongation of the inner flux surface of the MHD equilibrium. Non-conformal wall shapes to the plasmas (positive triangularity wall and negative triangularity plasma) are found to be rather helpful to stabilize the n = 0 mode, unless the plasma is too close to the walls at the nulls for the opposite triangularity.