Kinetic ballooning mode in todamak edge

摘要

It is shown that the tokamak edge with steep density gradient is subject to a new ballooning mode at ballooning parameters well below the ideal MHD (magnetohydrodynamic) critical value. The maximum growth rate occurs at k_(perpendicular) approx= #omega#_(pe)/c (the inverse collisionless skin depth) and exhibits strong isotope effect, #UPSILON#_(max) #alpha# 1/A. The mode propagates in the direction of electron diamagnetic drift.