Stability of Alfvén eigenmodes in optimized tokamaks

Alfvén eigenmodes (AEs) with intermediate toroidal mode numbers are modelled using the global gyrokinetic PENN code to determine the stability of high performance tokamak discharges in the presence of energetic particles. A large plasma pressure and a weak magnetic shear in the core give rise to radially extended kinetic AEs, which are stabilized by the high shear at the edge of a divertor (X point) configuration. Large values for the safety factor and the ion Larmor radius in reversed shear operation may however trigger drift kinetic Alfvén eigenmode instabilities that could affect the alpha particle confinement in a reactor.