It is relatively straightforward to establish equilibrium inmagnetically confined plasmas, but the plasma is frequentlysucceptible to a variety of instabilities that are driven bythe free energy in the magnetic field or in the pressuregradient. These unstable modes exhibit effects that affect theparticle, momentum and heat confinement properties of theconfiguration. Studies of the dynamics of several of the mostimportant modes are the subject of this thesis. The studies arecarried out on plasmas in the reversed field pinch (RFP)configuration. One phenomenon commonly observed in RFPs is mode walllocking. The localized nature of these phase- and wall lockedstructures results in localized power loads on the wall whichare detrimental for confinement. A detailed study of the walllocked mode phenomenon is performed based on magneticmeasurements from three RFP devices. The two possiblemechanisms for wall locking are investigated. Locking as aresult of tearing modes interacting with a static field errorand locking due to the presence of a non-ideal boundary. Thecharacteristics of the wall locked mode are qualitativelysimilar in a device with a conducting shell system (TPE-RX)compared to a device with a resistive shell (Extrap T2). Atheoretical model is used for evaluating the threshold valuesfor wall locking due to eddy currents in the vacuum vessel inthese devices. A good correlation with experiment is observedfor the conducting shell device. The possibility of succesfully sustaining discharges in aresistive shell RFP is introduced in the recently rebuiltdevice Extrap T2R. Fast spontaneous mode rotation is observed,resulting in low magnetic fluctuations, low loop voltage andimproved confinement. Wall locking is rarely observed. The lowtearingmode amplitudes allow for the theoretically predictedinternal nonresonant on-axis resistive wall modes to beobserved. These modes have not previously been distinguisheddue to the formation of wall locked modes. The internal andexternal nonresonant resistive wall modes grow on the timescale of the shell penetration time. These growth rates dependon the RFP equilibrium. The internal nonresonant resistive wallmodes dominate in Extrap T2R, especially for shallow reverseddischarges. The external nonresonant modes grow solely in deepreversal discharges. <b>Keywords</b>Nuclear fusion, reversed field pinch, resistiveinstabilities, wall locked modes, tearing modes, resistiveshell modes, field errors, EXTRAP-T2, EXTRAP-T2R, TPE-RX

<p>It is relatively straightforward to establish equilibrium inmagnetically confined plasmas, but the plasma is frequentlysucceptible to a variety of instabilities that are driven bythe free energy in the magnetic field or in the pressuregradient. These unstable modes exhibit effects that affect theparticle, momentum and heat confinement properties of theconfiguration. Studies of the dynamics of several of the mostimportant modes are the subject of this thesis. The studies arecarried out on plasmas in the reversed field pinch (RFP)configuration.</p><p>One phenomenon commonly observed in RFPs is mode walllocking. The localized nature of these phase- and wall lockedstructures results in localized power loads on the wall whichare detrimental for confinement. A detailed study of the walllocked mode phenomenon is performed based on magneticmeasurements from three RFP devices. The two possiblemechanisms for wall locking are investigated. Locking as aresult of tearing modes interacting with a static field errorand locking due to the presence of a non-ideal boundary. Thecharacteristics of the wall locked mode are qualitativelysimilar in a device with a conducting shell system (TPE-RX)compared to a device with a resistive shell (Extrap T2). Atheoretical model is used for evaluating the threshold valuesfor wall locking due to eddy currents in the vacuum vessel inthese devices. A good correlation with experiment is observedfor the conducting shell device.</p><p>The possibility of succesfully sustaining discharges in aresistive shell RFP is introduced in the recently rebuiltdevice Extrap T2R. Fast spontaneous mode rotation is observed,resulting in low magnetic fluctuations, low loop voltage andimproved confinement. Wall locking is rarely observed. The lowtearingmode amplitudes allow for the theoretically predictedinternal nonresonant on-axis resistive wall modes to beobserved. These modes have not previously been distinguisheddue to the formation of wall locked modes. The internal andexternal nonresonant resistive wall modes grow on the timescale of the shell penetration time. These growth rates dependon the RFP equilibrium. The internal nonresonant resistive wallmodes dominate in Extrap T2R, especially for shallow reverseddischarges. The external nonresonant modes grow solely in deepreversal discharges.</p><p><b>Keywords</b>Nuclear fusion, reversed field pinch, resistiveinstabilities, wall locked modes, tearing modes, resistiveshell modes, field errors, EXTRAP-T2, EXTRAP-T2R, TPE-RX</p>

La Nébuleuse du Crabe, contenant en son centre une étoile à neutrons très magnétisée – le pulsar du Crabe, était essentiellement considérée comme une chandelle standard stable dans les rayons-gamma. Récemment, ce point de vue a été contredit par des éruptions en rayons-gamma observées par les satellites spatiaux AGILE/Fermi-LAT. Même si le vent magnétique relativiste du pulsar est considéré comme la source d’énergie, le mécanisme physique à la base de ces événements éruptifs est encore un mystère. Nous avons, dans cette thèse, amélioré la compréhension d’un mécanisme basé sur la reconnexion magnétique rapide, partant du modèle du vent magnétique généré par le pulsar central qui perd son énergie rotationnelle. En effet, la structure du vent magnétique implique la présence des stries à lignes de champ magnétique de polarités alternées (d’où le nom "vent strié") à travers le plan équatorial du pulsar. Dans un modèle simplifié local, nous supposons l’initiation de la dynamique à partir d’une configuration à double nappe de courant (induite par la structure magnétique) dans le repère du vent strié. / The Crab Nebula, containing in its center a highly magnetized neutron star - the Crab pulsar, was essentially considered as a standard steady-state candle in gamma rays. Recently, this point of view has been challenged by gamma-ray flares observed by space satellites AGILE/Fermi-LAT. Even if the relativistic magnetic wind of the pulsar is considered to be the source of energy, the physical mechanism underlying these eruptive events is still a mystery. In this thesis, we improved the understanding of a mechanism based on fast magnetic reconnection, starting from the model of the magnetic wind generated by the central pulsar which loses its rotational kinetic energy. Indeed, the structure of the magnetic wind implies the presence of stripes with magmatic field lines of alternating polarities (hence the name "striped wind") through the equatorial plane of the pulsar. In a simplified local model, we assume the initiation of the dynamics from a double-current sheet configuration (induced by the magnetic structure) in the striped wind reference.

In this work we study the magnetic field modeling of realistic non-axisymmetric plasma equilibrium configurations and the heat flux patterns on the plasma facing components of tokamak divertor discharges. We start by establishing the relation between generic magnetic configurations and Hamiltonian dynamical systems. We apply the concept of magnetic helicity, used to establish topological bounds for the magnetic field lines in ideal plasmas, and to understand the self-consistency of reconnected magnetic surfaces in non-axisymmetric configurations. After this theoretical discussion, we present some results on magnetohydrodynamic equilibrium and the use of analytical solutions to the Grad-Shafranov equation for describing real tokamak discharges based on the experimental diagnostics and realistic boundary conditions. We also compare the equilibrium reconstruction of a DIII-D discharge obtained with a numerical reconstruction routine, developed as part of this research, and the EFIT code used by several tokamak laboratories around the world. The magnetic topology and plasma profiles obtained with our method are in considerable agreement with the numerical reconstruction performed with the other code. Then, we introduce a simplified description of the generic non-axisymmetric magnetic field created by known sources and implement it numerically for describing the magnetic field due to external coils in tokamak devices. After that, we use this routines to develop a numerical procedure to adjust a suitable set of non-linear parameters of internal filamentary currents, which are intended to model the plasma response based on the magnetic field measurements outside the plasma. Finally, these methods are used to model the magnetic field created by a slowly rotating plasma instability in a real DIII-D discharge. The plasma response modeling is based on the magnetic probe measurements and allow us to calculate the magnetic field in arbitrary locations near the plasma edge. Using this information we determine the non-axisymmetric plasma edge through the magnetic invariant manifolds routine developed during this work. The intersection of the calculated invariant manifold with the tokamak chamber agrees considerably well with the heat flux measurements for the same discharge at the divertor plates, indicating the development of a rotating manifold due to the internal asymmetric plasma currents, giving quantitative support to our simplified description of the magnetic field and the plasma edge definition through the invariant manifolds. / Neste trabalho estuda-se a modelagem do campo magnético em configurações realistas de plasmas em equilíbrio não-axissimétrico e o fluxo de calor nos componentes em contato com o plasma em descargas de tokamaks com desviadores poloidais. Começa-se estabelecendo a relação entre configurações magnéticas arbitrárias e sistemas dinâmicos Hamiltonianos. Então aplicamos o conceito de helicidade magnética, que é usado para estabelecer limitações topológicas sobre as linhas de campo magnético em plasmas ideais, assim como para compreender a auto-consistência das superfícies magnéticas reconectadas em configurações não-axissimétricas. Após esta discussão teórica, apresentam-se alguns resultados sobre o equilíbrio magnetohidrodinâmico e o uso de soluções analíticas à equação de Grad-Shafranov para descrever descargas reais em tokamaks, com base em diagnósticos experimentais e condições de contorno realistas. Também realiza-se uma comparação entre a reconstrução do equilíbrio de uma descarga do DIII-D, obtida mediante uma rotina numérica desenvolvida para esta pesquisa, com a obtida mediante o código EFIT, usado amplamente em diversos tokamaks. Após isso, apresenta-se uma descrição simplificada do campo magnético não-axissimétrico, criado por fontes determinadas, e a sua implementação para descrever o campo magnético devido às correntes externas em tokamaks. Então, usam-se estas rotinas para desenvolver um procedimento numérico que ajusta um conjunto adequado de parâmetros não-lineares de correntes filamentares internas, com as quais pretende-se modelar a resposta do plasma com base nas medidas de campo magnético fora do plasma. Finalmente, estes métodos são utilizados para modelar o campo magnético criado por uma instabilidade com rotação lenta numa descarga do DIII-D. Com base nas medidas das sondas magnéticas é possível modelar os campos criados em regiões arbitrárias próximas da borda do plasma. Usando esta informação é possível determinar a borda não-axissimétrica do plasma mediante as invariantes magnéticas calculadas com a utilização de uma rotina desenvolvida durante este trabalho. A intersecção da superfície invariante com a câmara do tokamak coincide satisfatoriamente com as medidas de fluxo de calor nas placas do divertor para a mesma descarga, indicando o desenvolvimento de uma variedade giratória criada pelas correntes de plasma não-axissimétricas, e sustentando quantitativamente a nossa descrição simplificada do campo magnético, assim como a definição da borda do plasma mediante as invariantes magnéticas.

In this work we study the magnetic field modeling of realistic non-axisymmetric plasma equilibrium configurations and the heat flux patterns on the plasma facing components of tokamak divertor discharges. We start by establishing the relation between generic magnetic configurations and Hamiltonian dynamical systems. We apply the concept of magnetic helicity, used to establish topological bounds for the magnetic field lines in ideal plasmas, and to understand the self-consistency of reconnected magnetic surfaces in non-axisymmetric configurations. After this theoretical discussion, we present some results on magnetohydrodynamic equilibrium and the use of analytical solutions to the Grad-Shafranov equation for describing real tokamak discharges based on the experimental diagnostics and realistic boundary conditions. We also compare the equilibrium reconstruction of a DIII-D discharge obtained with a numerical reconstruction routine, developed as part of this research, and the EFIT code used by several tokamak laboratories around the world. The magnetic topology and plasma profiles obtained with our method are in considerable agreement with the numerical reconstruction performed with the other code. Then, we introduce a simplified description of the generic non-axisymmetric magnetic field created by known sources and implement it numerically for describing the magnetic field due to external coils in tokamak devices. After that, we use this routines to develop a numerical procedure to adjust a suitable set of non-linear parameters of internal filamentary currents, which are intended to model the plasma response based on the magnetic field measurements outside the plasma. Finally, these methods are used to model the magnetic field created by a slowly rotating plasma instability in a real DIII-D discharge. The plasma response modeling is based on the magnetic probe measurements and allow us to calculate the magnetic field in arbitrary locations near the plasma edge. Using this information we determine the non-axisymmetric plasma edge through the magnetic invariant manifolds routine developed during this work. The intersection of the calculated invariant manifold with the tokamak chamber agrees considerably well with the heat flux measurements for the same discharge at the divertor plates, indicating the development of a rotating manifold due to the internal asymmetric plasma currents, giving quantitative support to our simplified description of the magnetic field and the plasma edge definition through the invariant manifolds. / Neste trabalho estuda-se a modelagem do campo magnético em configurações realistas de plasmas em equilíbrio não-axissimétrico e o fluxo de calor nos componentes em contato com o plasma em descargas de tokamaks com desviadores poloidais. Começa-se estabelecendo a relação entre configurações magnéticas arbitrárias e sistemas dinâmicos Hamiltonianos. Então aplicamos o conceito de helicidade magnética, que é usado para estabelecer limitações topológicas sobre as linhas de campo magnético em plasmas ideais, assim como para compreender a auto-consistência das superfícies magnéticas reconectadas em configurações não-axissimétricas. Após esta discussão teórica, apresentam-se alguns resultados sobre o equilíbrio magnetohidrodinâmico e o uso de soluções analíticas à equação de Grad-Shafranov para descrever descargas reais em tokamaks, com base em diagnósticos experimentais e condições de contorno realistas. Também realiza-se uma comparação entre a reconstrução do equilíbrio de uma descarga do DIII-D, obtida mediante uma rotina numérica desenvolvida para esta pesquisa, com a obtida mediante o código EFIT, usado amplamente em diversos tokamaks. Após isso, apresenta-se uma descrição simplificada do campo magnético não-axissimétrico, criado por fontes determinadas, e a sua implementação para descrever o campo magnético devido às correntes externas em tokamaks. Então, usam-se estas rotinas para desenvolver um procedimento numérico que ajusta um conjunto adequado de parâmetros não-lineares de correntes filamentares internas, com as quais pretende-se modelar a resposta do plasma com base nas medidas de campo magnético fora do plasma. Finalmente, estes métodos são utilizados para modelar o campo magnético criado por uma instabilidade com rotação lenta numa descarga do DIII-D. Com base nas medidas das sondas magnéticas é possível modelar os campos criados em regiões arbitrárias próximas da borda do plasma. Usando esta informação é possível determinar a borda não-axissimétrica do plasma mediante as invariantes magnéticas calculadas com a utilização de uma rotina desenvolvida durante este trabalho. A intersecção da superfície invariante com a câmara do tokamak coincide satisfatoriamente com as medidas de fluxo de calor nas placas do divertor para a mesma descarga, indicando o desenvolvimento de uma variedade giratória criada pelas correntes de plasma não-axissimétricas, e sustentando quantitativamente a nossa descrição simplificada do campo magnético, assim como a definição da borda do plasma mediante as invariantes magnéticas.