MHD Stability and Operational Limits

This lecture covers the MHD stability and operational limits in tokamak plasmas. It discusses the stability of the MHD equilibrium, conceptual examples of instabilities, and operational limits in tokamak plasmas. The instructor explains the importance of understanding whether the plasma configuration will survive small perturbations and the role of forces in restoring equilibrium. Various instabilities like sausage and kink instabilities are explored, along with the impact of wall effects on MHD instabilities. The lecture also delves into the performance and operational limits of modern fusion devices, including factors like plasma current, density, and pressure. It concludes with a summary of fusion performance, operational limits, and the control of instabilities.