Design and Fabrication of a Movable Langmuir Probe for Plasma Edge Parameters Measurement in the IR-T1 Tokamak

For the edge plasma parameters measurement, a movable Langmuir probe is fabricated and installed on the IR-T1 tokamak. The set-up consists of two sets of single Langmuir probes with tungsten tip movable in the radial direction. Edge plasma parameters including electron temperature, Ion density, floating potential and the corresponding radial changes are measured. Using two-point correlation technique clearly reveal that in the SOL region the poloidal propagation of floating potential fluctuation is in the direction of ion diamagnetic drift and in the edge it propagates in the electron diamagnetic drift direction.     

The Research of EAST Pedestal Structure and Preliminary Application

The pedestal characteristic is an important basis for high confinement mode(Hmode) research. Because of the finite spatial resolution of Thomson scattering(TS) diagnostic on Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak(EAST), it is necessary to characterize the pedestal with a suitable functional form. Based on simulated and experimental data of EAST,it is shown that the two-line method with a bilinear fitting has better reproducibility of pedestal parameters than hyperbolic tangent(tanh) and modified hyperbolic tangent(mtanh) methods.This method has been applied to EAST type I edge localized mode(ELM) discharges, and the electron pedestal density is found to be proportional to the line-averaged density and the edge pressure gradient is found to be proportional to the pedestal pressure. Furthermore, the ion poloidal gyro-radius has been identified as the suitable parameter to describe the pedestal pressure width.     

Experimental Observation of the Edge and Divertor Plasma in HL-2A

Edge plasma characteristics were studied by a fast-scanning 4-probe array and a Much/Reynolds stress/Langmuir 10-probe movable array in the boundary region. These probes could measure the edge plasma temperature, density, poloidal electric field, radial electric field, Reynolds stress, poloidal rotation velocities and their profiles, which could be obtained by changing the radial positions of the probe array shot by shot. The measured results were used to analyse plasma confinement, turbulent fluctuations and correlations. The fixed flush 3-probe arrays were mounted on the 4-divertor neutralization plates at the same toroidal cross-section in the divertor chamber. These probes were used to measure the profiles of the electron temperature, density and float potential in the divertor chamber. Edge plasma behaviours in both limiter configuration and divertor configuration are compared. The decay lengths of the edge temperature and density were measured and is emphasized for plasma behaviours of the supersonic molecular beam injection and lower hybrid current drive. The dependence of the radial gradient of Reynolds stress on the poloidal flow and the radial gradient of the electric field on turbulent loss are discussed.     

The investigation of quasi coherent mode on EAST using Doppler reflectometry

An electrostatic Quasi coherent mode has been observed in density fluctuations and perpendicular velocity fluctuations with the frequency range of 3–80 k Hz on the Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak using multi-channel Doppler reflectometry. It appears in the edge localized mode(ELM)-free period after L-H transition or in the inter-ELM period. The mode rotates almost together with the plasma with the poloidal wave number around 0.6cm~(-1) and its frequency chirps with plasma poloidal velocity. The mode can exist in a large radial coverage(ρ?=?0.75–0.98), and peaks near the top of pedestal, suggesting that it might be excited in the steep gradient pedestal region, and spread into the core area.     

Toroidal component of velocity for geodesic acoustic modes in the edge plasmas of the J-TEXT tokamak

The toroidal component of the velocity for geodesic acoustic modes (GAMs) is first demonstrated.Multiple Langmuir probe arrays set up near the top tokamak of the J-TEXT were utilized for this study.A significant peak at the GAM frequency is observed in Mach number fluctuations.The toroidal velocity for the GAMs is estimated as ～10-100 m s-1 and increases with the poloidal velocity.The ratio of toroidal component to the poloidal one of the velocity is mainly located in the interval between 0.3 and 1.0.With higher safety factors q,the ratio almost does not change with decreasing the safety factor,whereas it goes up sharply at low q.The coherencies between poloidal electric fields and Mach number fluctuations in turbulence frequency bands are also evaluated,and are higher than those between radial electric fields and Mach number fluctuations.     

Preliminary Study of the Magnetic Perturbation Effects on the Edge Density Profiles and Fluctuations Using Reflectometers on EAST

The resonant magnetic perturbation(RMP) coils have been successfully designed and installed on the Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak(EAST).Using the reflectometer systems,the density profile and the density fluctuations during magnetic perturbations(MPs) phase have been investigated.During the experiments,two different cases are studied separately:steady MPs and rotating MPs.In both cases,a strongly density pump-out has been observed.In the steady MPs cases,an enhancement of the low frequency(60 kHz)density fluctuations in H-mode phase has been observed.The plasma density boundary out-shifts~ 5%caused by the MPs.The pedestal density gradient is reduced by 50%,while the radial location nearly stays unchanged.In the rotating MPs,the line-averaged density,the D_α emission at the divertor region and the spectrum of the density fluctuations are modulated.The results suggest that the low frequency(60 kHz) density fluctuations may contribute to the strong density pump-out.     

Experimental study of core and edge fluctuations by reflectometry on EAST tokamak

An eight-channel poloidal correlation reflectometer(PCR) with O-mode polarization has been installed in the EAST tokamak to measure the fluctuations from core to edge. The PCR launches eight different frequency microwaves(20.4, 24.8, 33, 40, 42.4, 48, 52.6, 57.2 GHz) into the plasma from the low field side and two poloidally separated antennae are used to receive the reflected waves. As a result, the diagnostic can measure fluctuations in eight(radial)× two(poloidal) spatial positions. The diagnostic has been applied to study the core and edge pedestal fluctuations during an inter-ELM phase in H-mode plasma. This inter-ELM phase can be divided into two stages. In the first stage, a low frequency(50 k Hz) broadband fluctuation dominates in the pedestal gradient region. In the second stage, this fluctuation is strongly suppressed and quasi-coherent fluctuations(QCFs) appear. The QCF's amplitude increases with the pedestal density gradient, implying density gradient driven instabilities. But the core fluctuations inside the pedestal show no evident changes during the inter-ELM phase.     

Fast radial scanning probe system on KTX

A fast radial scanning probe system was constructed for the Keda Torus eXperiment(KTX) to measure the profiles of boundary plasma parameters such as floating potential, electron density,temperature, transport fluxes, etc. The scanning probe system is driven by slow and fast motion mechanisms, corresponding to the stand-by movement of a stepping motor and the fast scanning movement of a high-torque servo-motor, respectively. In fast scanning, the scanner drives the probe radially up to 20 cm at a maximum velocity of 4.0 m s~(-1). A noncontact magnetic grating ruler with a high spatial resolution of 5 μm is used for the displacement measurement. New scanning probe can reach the center of plasmas rapidly. The comparison of plasma floating potential profiles obtained by a fixed radial rake probe and the single scanning probe suggests that the high-speed scanning probe system is reliable for measuring edge plasma parameter profiles on the KTX device.     

Plasma edge density fluctuation measurements via lithium beam emission spectroscopy on EAST

Accurate and stable measurements of edge density fluctuation with high spatio-temporal resolution have been achieved by the lithium beam emission spectroscopy (Li-BES) diagnostic on experimental and advanced superconducting tokamak (EAST). The new narrower band interference filter exhibits good ability to suppress background emission signal even under strong lithium coating of the tokamak. The raw data measured by channels at different spatial locations in avalanche photo diode camera with high chopping frequency show good consistency. Based on the detected experimental data, detailed information of density profile and fluctuation structures is obtained. A clear edge coherent mode in the auto-power spectrum is observed in pedestal region, which is regarded as the dominant factor for the strong pedestal density fluctuation amplitude. The cross-power spectrum analysis further excludes the additional effects of common-mode noises and non-local perturbation, demonstrating that the detected fluctuation is only caused by local density fluctuation. The normalized radial and poloidal wave-number spectra can specify the quantitative changes of radial wavenumber (kr) and poloidal wavenumber (kθ) during the pedestal density fluctuation phase. This new Li-BES system, which can provide more accurate experimental data, allows further studies of edge density fluctuation and complex transport process on EAST.     

Turbulent Transport in the Tokamak Edge Plasma and SOL Region

In this work, the turbulent transport in the edge plasma and Scrape-Off Layer (SOL) region of IR-T1 tokamak at the presence of biased limiter has been investigated and analyzed. The time and radial evolution of floating potential, electric field and turbulent transport have been measured by using two arrays of the Langmuir probes in both the radial and poloidal directions. The analyses have been done by the Fast Fourier Transport method and spectral features of them are obtained with the help of the standard Auto-Correlation technique and modified covariance power spectral density estimate. The probability distribution function and actual transfer function magnitude of the radial and poloidal turbulent transport (Γ_r and Γ_p) have been investigated and compared in the edge plasma and SOL region. Also the histogram of turbulent transport has been analyzed and compared in the edge and SOL at presence of positive limiter biasing. The results show that in the edge plasma poloidal turbulent transport (Γ_p) is about of 60 % more than SOL region whereas radial turbulent transport (Γ_r) is about of 40 % less. During the application of positive biasing, it was found that Γ_r in the IR-T1 reduces by about 80 % in the edge plasma and 45–50 % in the SOL. Increase of Γ_p is about of 50 % after applied positive biasing in the edge while it increases 70 % nearly, in the SOL. Consequently, the improvement in confinement can be obtained for positive limiter biasing.     

Quasi-coherent mode in core plasma of SUNIST spherical tokamak

A quasi-coherent(QC) mode was observed in the core region of low-density ohmic plasmas in Sino-UNIted Spherical Tokamak.In experiments on the QC mode,two sets of moveable Langmuir probes(LPs) were used to measure the local parameters including floating potential,electron temperature,electron density,and so on,as well as their profiles.To monitor the magnetohydrodynamic activities,a Mirnov probe was used to measure the poloidal magnetic fluctuation.The QC mode can be seen in the spectra of floati...     

Experiment Results about the Relationship of Edge Turbulence and Atomic Processes in the HT-7 Tokamak

Using a reciprocating Langmuir probe system, the boundary plasma behaviors were investigated before and after lithium/silicon coating. Accompanying the effective reduction of impurity radiation, strong shears of radial electric field and poloidal velocity came into being and the turbulence suppression and de-correlation were observed in the edge region of coated wall plasma. All these led to the reduction of the edge transport and improvement of plasma confinement. In the central line averaged density scanning experiments, an enhanced shear of the radial electric field was observed in the edge plasma with the increase of the density, which may account for the enhancement of the transport barrier and the improvement of particle confinement.The results suggest a close link between wall conditions and boundary plasma. In addition to the relationship, (～Te)/Te ～(～n)n/ne and θ_(～T)e(～n)e ～π, had been observed in the plasma edge region, which indicates the important role of the ionization and radiation in turbulence driving.     

STFT Analysis of the Particle Transport on the IR-T1 Tokamak Plasma Sheath

The time-resolved frequency component analysis has been performed using short time Fourier transform. Fourier-based techniques and auto-correlation have been employed to analyze the frequency of the MHD fluctuations. The time evolution of potential fluctuation, and electric field and turbulent transport have been measured by using two arrays of the Langmuir probes in both the radial and poloidal directions. The experiments have been done in different regimes as Limiter biasing and RHF and both of them. The analyses have been done by the fast Fourier transport (FFT) method and spectral features of them are obtained with the help of the standard auto-correlation technique. The results show that radial turbulent transport decreases about 60 % after positive biasing application while it increases about 40 % after negative biasing. The effect of positive biasing on poloidal turbulent transport displays an increase of about 55 % while the negative bias voltage decreases the poloidal turbulent transport about 30 %. Consequently, confinement is improved and plasma density rises significantly due to the applied positive biasing in IR-T1. But the results are reversed when negative biasing is applied. Also, in this work, the results of applied RHF (L = 3) are compared with biasing results and analysed.     

Combined Langmuir-magnetic probe measurements of type-Ⅰ ELMy filaments in the EAST tokamak

Detailed investigations on the filamentary structures associated with the type-I edge-localized modes(ELMs) should be helpful for protecting the materials of a plasma-facing wall on a future large device.Related experiments have been carefully conducted in the Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak(EAST) using combined Langmuir-magnetic probes.The experimental results indicate that the radially outward velocity of type-I ELMy filaments can be up to 1.7 kms~(-1) in the far scrape-off layer(SOL) region.It is remarkable that the electron temperature of these filaments is detected to be ~50eV,corresponding to a fraction of 1/6 to the temperature near the pedestal top,while the density ~3×10~(19)m~(-3) of these filaments could be approximate to the line-averaged density.In addition,associated magnetic fluctuations have been clearly observed at the same time,which show good agreement with the density perturbations.A localized current on the order of ~100kA could be estimated within the filaments.     

Combined Langmuir-magnetic probe measurements of type-I ELMy filaments in the EAST tokamak

Detailed investigations on the filamentary structures associated with the type-I edge-localized modes (ELMs) should be helpful for protecting the materials of a plasma-facing wall on a future large device. Related experiments have been carefully conducted in the Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST) using combined Langmuir-magnetic probes. The experimental results indicate that the radially outward velocity of type-I ELMy filaments can be up to 1.7 km s^-1 in the far scrape-off layer (SOL) region. It is remarkable that the electron temperature of these filaments is detected to be ～50 eV, corresponding to a fraction of 1/6 to the temperature near the pedestal top, while the density (~3×10 ¹⁹ m ^-3) of these filaments could be approximate to the line-averaged density. In addition, associated magnetic fluctuations have been clearly observed at the same time, which show good agreement with the density perturbations. A localized current on the order of ～100 kA could be estimated within the filaments.     

Magnetic-island-induced ion temperature gradient mode: Landau damping,equilibrium magnetic shear and pressure flattening effects

Characteristics of the magnetic-island-induced ion temperature gradient (MITG) mode are studied through gyrofluid simulations in the slab geometry,focusing on the effects of Landau damping,equilibrium magnetic shear (EMS),and pressure flattening.It is shown that the magnetic island may enhance the Landau damping of the system by inducing the radial magnetic field.Moreover,the radial eigenmode numbers of most MITG poloidal harmonics are increased by the magnetic island so that the MITG mode is destabilized in the low EMS regime.In addition,the pressure profile flattening effect inside a magnetic island hardly affects the growth of the whole MITG mode,while it has different local effects near the O-point and the X-point regions.In comparison with the non-zero-order perturbations,only the quasi-linear flattening effect due to the zonal pressure is the effective component to impact the growth rate of the mode.     

Tokamak edge plasma rotation in the presence of the biased electrode

Electrode biasing system was designed, constructed, and installed on the IR-T1 tokamak, and then biasing experiments were carried out. Also, using a Mach probes the effects of radial electric field (produced by biased electrode) on the poloidal and toroidal components of the edge plasma velocity were investigated. The results showed an increase in both toroidal and poloidal components of the edge plasma velocity during biasing regime. Results compared and discussed. During positive biasing, increased E_r tends to slow the poloidal rotation in the electron diamagnetic drift direction, i.e., to speed up rotation in the ion diamagnetic drift direction. An increased toroidal rotation velocity has the opposite effect on the poloidal rotation.     

Measurement of the magnetic field errors on TCV

A set of 24 saddle loops is used on the Tokamak à Configuration Variable (TCV) to measure the radial magnetic flux at different toroidal and vertical positions. The new system is calibrated together with the standard magnetic diagnostics on TCV. Based on the results of this calibration, the effective current in the poloidal field coils and their position is computed. These corrections are then used to compute the distribution of the error field inside the vacuum vessel for a typical TCV discharge.Since the saddle loops measure the magnetic flux at different toroidal positions, the non-axisymmetric error field is also estimated and correlated to a shift or a tilt of the poloidal field coils.     

A comparison of emissive and cold floating probe techniques for electric potential measurements in rf inductive discharge

A cold floating probe method was compared with the emissive floating probe method in terms of a low-pressure radio-frequency inductive discharge. The dependences of difference between the plasma potential and the floating potential on the electron temperature 1–8 eV, plasma density 10⁹ –10¹² cm⁻³ and magnetic field 100–650 G were obtained. It was demonstrated that the difference between the potentials that obtained by these two methods can differ significantly from the expected value of 5.2 kT_e/e for argon.     

The Influence of the Negative Radial Electric Field on the Orbit of Banana Particles in Tokamak

This paper explores the patterns of influence of the negative radial electric field on the drift displacement and trajectory of charged particles, for it is essential for further investigation into the transitional mechanism of L-H Mode. In the light of superposition between the poloidal velocity of charged particles and the E ×B drift caused by the negative radial electric field, the paper offers a theoretical analysis and value simulations. Under the action of different radial electric fields, results have been obtained in regard to changes in the velocity of charged particles (mainly ions), patterns of changes in drift displacement, regional change of banana particles, and features of transition and change between trajectories of transiting particles and banana particles.