Modeling of Basic Physics Issues in Toroidal Pinches and Tools for Performance Control

Recent progress about helical self-organization studies is reported. Extensive exploita5on of 3D nonlinear visco-resistive modeling, SpeCyl code, which describes current-driven dynamics typical of pinch configura5ons in cylindrical geometry. Magnetic topology studies are based on the Field Line Tracing code NEMATO and a new refined tool to detect Lagrangian Coherent Structures is compared with results from a temperature equa/on solver. The following Physics Issues in helical self-organization are addressed: o Boundary Conditions and dimensionless parameters impact, (RFP, and circular Tokamak) o Forma5on of internal transport barriers, (RFP) o Temporary loss of opera5onal point, reconnec5on events, (RFP and circular Tokamak), o Alfvén waves excitation (RFP and circular Tokamak), RESULTS show: o Reasonable comparison (validation) with RFP experimental observations, o Similarities between RFP and Tokamak-like configuration.