Plasma-surface interactions in a reversed-field pinch

Abstract In a reversed-field pinch, nonlinear mode coupling is frequently generated, because it has many adjacent rational surfaces. It is confirmed that the nonlinear mode coupling generates the burst of energetic ions with a monochromatic energy distribution of 3 keV and that these energetic ions sputtered metal impurities into the plasma. From these results, it is concluded that the nonlinear mode coupling in an RFP plasma has a great influence on the plasma surface interaction.