Confinement and Stability of Fast Ions in Fusion Plasmas

This book explores the outstanding and rather novel diagnostics of the fast ions and fast ion-driven instabilities coupled to modern theory of near-critical nonlinear wave-particle systems with the particle source and wave damping. Such a theory was first developed by H.L. Berk and B.N. Breizman in mid-90th, and it delivered an extra-ordinary number of results successfully explaining the experimentally observed energetic ion-driven instabilities. A systematic and step-by-step analysis of resonant interactions between the waves in plasmas and several various types of energetic ion populations is presented and analysed, taking the readers on an exciting journey into the world of nonlinear physics theory. It also explores the cutting-edge experiments performed and diagnosed on the world best magnetic fusion machines. The phenomena described in this book will be of interest for researchers studying fusion, solar plasma, and space plasma, but also for a broader realm of researchers working in non-linear phenomena. Key Features: Features experimental data and the Berk-Breizman theory on nonlinear evolution of energetic particle-driven waves. Describes in simple terms, the recent advances in the diagnostics of energetic particles and Alfven waves. Presents a systematic overview of extrapolating results presented in other types of plasmas (solar, space) and nonlinear systems.