Transport simulations of reversed field pinch plasmas: An integrated model coupling magnetohydrodynamics and impurity physics

An integrated one-dimensional model for the description of plasma transport in the reversed field pinch is presented. The model unifies magnetohydrodynamics and particle/energy transport in a single framework, with the inclusion of impurity physics. Up to now, the applications of the code concern the chaotic regimes of the reversed field pinch, with the intent to clarify the role of the turbulent dynamo for the discharge sustainment and the relative weight of the source/sink terms in the energy balance equations. © 2009 American Institute of Physics.