Nonlinear saturation of reversed shear Alfven eigenmode via high-frequency quasi-mode generation

Abstract

A nonlinear saturation mechanism for reversed shear Alfven eigenmode (RSAE) is proposed and analysed, and is shown to be of relevance to typical reactor parameter region. The saturation is achieved through the generation of high-frequency quasi-mode due to nonlinear coupling of two RSAEs, which is then damped due to coupling with the shear Alfven continuum, and leads to the nonlinear saturation of the primary RSAEs . An estimation of the nonlinear damping rate is also provided.