EFFECTS OF ION TEMPERATURE-FLUCTUATIONS ON THE STABILITY OF RESISTIVEBALLOONING MODES

The influence of ion temperature fluctuations on the stability of resi stive drift and ballooning modes is investigated using a two-fluid mod al. The eigenmode equations are derived and solved analytically in a l ow beta model equilibrium. Parameters relevant to low-confinement-mode (L-mode) edge plasmas from the Texas Experimental Tokamak (TEXT) [Phy s. Fluids B 2, 2879 (1990)] are used. The resistive modes are found to be destabilized by ion temperature fluctuations over a broad range of mode numbers. The scaling of the growth rate with magnetic shear, eta (i)(L(n)/L(Ti)) and the mode number is elucidated. (C) 1997 American I nstitute of Physics.