A possible nature of breathing plasmas

A model for breathing plasmas observed in the large helical device [Y. Takeiri , Plasma Phys. Controlled Fusion 42, 147 (2000)] is proposed. It takes into account the synergism of radiation losses from both low-Z (carbon, oxygen) and high-Z (iron) impurities in the plasma power balance. (C) 2000 American Institute of Physics. [S1070- 664X(00)01411-7].