Simulation Study on the ITB Formation During LHCD in JT—60U

A transport simulation has been done by using a 1.5D time dependent transport code to reproduce a formation of the ITB on electron temperature profile during the long pulse LHCD in JT-60U tokamak.The transport coefficients were assumed to reduce with a reversed magnetic shear and the LH driven current profile was evaluated by fitting dynamic change in the measured current profile.The gradual increase in the central electron temperature could be explanined by the change in the current profile during LHCD in the present simulation model.THe estimated LH-driven current prefile by the transport code analysis shows a finite current density at the plasma center.Analysis of transport simulation suggests some mechanisms for broadening the LH-driven current profile at the central region of the plasma.     

Impact of core electron temperature on current profile broadening with radio-frequency wave heating and current drive in EAST

In recent EAST experiments, current profile broadening characterized by reduced internal inductance has been achieved by utilizing radio-frequency current drives (RFCD). In contrast to previous density scan experiments, which showed an outward shift of the current density profile of lower hybrid current drive (LHCD) in higher plasma density, the core electron temperature (Te(0)) is found to affect the LHCD current profile as well. According to equilibrium reconstruction, a significant increase in on-axis safety factor (q0) from 2.05 to 3.41 is observed by careful arrangement of RFCD. Simulations using ray-tracing code GENRAY and Fokker–Planck code CQL3D have been performed to thoroughly analyze the LHCD current profile, revealing the sensitivity of the LHCD current profile to Te(0). The LHCD current density tends to accumulate in the plasma core with higher current drive efficiency benefiting from higher Te(0). With a lower Te(0), the LHCD current profile broadens due to off-axis deposition of power density. The sensitivity of the power deposition and current profile of LHCD to Te(0) provides a promising way to effectively optimize current profile via control of the core electron temperature.     

Recent Results of LHCD Experiments in EAST

Lower hybrid wave (LHW)-plasma coupling and lower hybrid current drive (LHCD) experiments in divertor, including single-null and double-null, and limiter configurations were conducted systematically in EAST. A maximum power for launched LHW is 1.4 MW and the plasma current with LHCD is about 1 MA. It is indicated that the coupling is best in limiter configuration, then in single-null one, while worst in double-null one. Study in current drive efficiency by a least squares fit shows that there is no obvious difference in drive efficiency between the double-null and the single-null cases, whereas the efficiency is a slightly lower in the limiter case. The effect of plasma density on the current drive efficiency is due to the influence of density on impurity concentration.     

Study on Radial Position of Impurity Ions in Core and Edge Plasma of LHD Using Space-Resolved EUV Spectrometer

Radial profiles of impurity ions of carbon, neon and iron were measured for high-temperature plasmas in large helical device (LHD) using a space-resolved extreme ultraviolet (EUV) spectrometer in the wavelength range of 60 to 400?. The radial positions of the impurity ions obtained are compared with the local ionization energies, Ei of these impurity ions and the electron temperatures TeZ there. The impurity ions with 0.3?Ei?1.0 keV are always located in outer region of plasma, i.e., 0.7?ρ?1.0, and those with Ei?0.3keV are located in the ergodic layer, i.e., 1.0?ρ?1.1, with a sharp peak edge., where ρ is the normalized radial position. It is newly found that TeZ is approximately equal to Ei for the impurity ions with Ei?0.3keV, whereas roughly half the value of Ei for the impurity ions with 0.3?Ei?1.0keV. It is known that TeZ is considerably lower than Ei in the plasma edge and approaches to Ei in the plasma core. Therefore, this result seems to originate from the difference in the transverse transport between the plasma edge at ρ?1.0 and the ergodic layer at ρ?1.0. The transverse transport is studied with an impurity transport simulation code. The result revealed that the difference appearing in the impurity radial positions can be qualitatively explained by the different values of diffusion coefficient, e.g., D=0.2 and 1.0m2/s, which can be taken as a typical index of the transverse transport.     

Effect of edge magnetic island on carbon screening in the J-TEXT tokamak

The effect of externally applied resonant magnetic perturbation(RMP)on carbon impurity behavior is investigated in the J-TEXT tokamak.It is found that the m/n=3/1 islands have an impurity screening effect,which becomes obvious while the edge magnetic island is generated via RMP field penetration.The impurity screening effect shows a dependence on the RMP phase with the field penetration,which is strongest if the O point of the magnetic island is near the low-field-side(LFS)limiter plate.By combining a methane injection experimental study and STRAHL impurity transport analysis,we found that the variation of the impurity transport dominates the impurity screening effect.The impurity diffusion at the inner plasma region(r/a＜0.8)is enhanced with a significant increase in outward convection velocity at the edge region in the case of the magnetic island's O point near the LFS limiter plate.The impurity transport coefficient varies by a much lower level for the case with the magnetic island's X point near the LFS limiter plate.The interaction of the magnetic island and the LFS limiter plate is thought to contribute to the impurity transport variation with the dependence on the RMP phase.A possible reason is the interaction between the magnetic island and the LFS limiter.     

Study of Divertor Heat Patterns Induced by LHCD L-Mode Plasmas Using an Infra-Red Camera System on EAST

Divertor heat patterns induced by Lower Hybrid Current Drive(LHCD) L-mode plasmas are investigated using an infra-red(IR) camera system on an Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak(EAST). A two-dimensional finite element analysis code DFlux is used to compute heat flux along the poloidal divertor target and corresponding quantities. Outside the Origin Strike Zone(OSZ), a Second Peak Heat Flux(SPHF) zone, where the heat flux is even stronger than that at the OSZ, appears on the lower-outer(LO) divertor plates with LHCD and disappears immediately after switching off the LHCD. The main heat-flux shifts from the SPHF zone towards the OSZ when the divertor configuration converts from double null to lower single null, indicating that the growth of the SPHF zone is apparently affected by a plasma magnetic configuration. The heat patterns on the LO divertor plates are observed to be different from that on the lower-inner(LI) targets as the SPHF zone appears only on the LO divertor target. It is also found that the heat flux at the SPHF zone was obviously enhanced after the Supersonic Molecule Beam Injection(SMBI) pulse.     

Estimates of EAST Operation Window with LHCD by Using a Core-SOL-Divertor Model

An experimental advanced superconducting tokamak (EAST) operation window with the lower hybrid current drive (LHCD) in H-mode is estimated by using a core-SOL-divertor (C-S-D) model validated by the present EAST divertor experiments. The operation window con- sists of four limits including two usual limits, one of which is the maximum allowable heat load onto the divertor plate, and two additional limits associated with the LHCD. The predictive EAST operation window is not qualified to fulfill its mission for high input power. To extend the opera- tion window, gas puffing and impurity seeding are presented as two effective methods. In addition, the effect of the LHCD current on the operation window is also discussed. Our numerical analysis results provide a reference for the safe operation of EAST experiments with LHCD in future.     

托卡马克等离子体杂质密度的光谱法测量研究

本文介绍了基于托卡马克等离子体被动光谱诊断获得杂质密度的方法。通过被动光谱诊断测量获得杂质线辐射的空间多道弦积分强度分布,利用强度标定系数转换为绝对光亮度分布;通过测量弦与等离子体位形,将弦积分的强度分布反演变换为径向体发射率。根据线辐射强度激发截面求出对应电离态的离子密度,最后采用杂质输运程序模拟计算得出总密度分布。以东方超环(Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak,EAST)托卡马克装置上软X射线-极紫外光谱(Soft X-ray and Extreme Ultraviolet Spectrometers,XEUV)诊断测量到的Mo XXIX-Mo XXXII为例,描叙了获得Mo杂质密度分布的过程,获得的总误差小于10%。     

Modification of Boundary Parameters and Fluctuations by IBW and LHCD in the HT-7 Tokamak

Measurements of boundary parameters and their fluctuations have been performed in ohmic (OH) plasma and Ion Bernstein Wave (IBW) and Lower Hybrid Current Drive (LHCD) enhanced confinement plasma using a pneumatically driven Langmuir probe array on HT-7 toka-maX. In the enhanced confinement plasma~ the gradients of electron density and temperature become higher and a transport barrier comes into being in the vicinity of the limiter. The boundary potential shows a clear modification in the same region. The fluctuation levels are significantly depressed and the coherences between fluctuations are reduced evidently in the enhanced plasma.Meanwhile, we obtained the spectral features and the poloidal phase velocity of fluctuations us-ing a two-point correlation technique and found obvious modifications of the turbulence and the poloidal flow. The results suggest that the improved confinement in the IBW and LHCD enhanced plasma is at least partially due to the modification of the boundary parameters and the suppression of the boundary fluctuations and fluctuation induced fluxes.     

Power balance investigation in steady-state LHCD discharges on TRIAM-1M

A discharge longer than 5 h was successfully achieved on TRIAM-1M by fully non-inductive lower hybrid current drive (LHCD). The heat load distribution into the plasma facing components (PFCs) during the 5 h discharge was investigated using calorimetric measurements, which estimated that the injected radio frequency (RF) power coincided with the total heat load amount to the PFCs. The power balance, including the portion of direct loss power of the fast electrons and the heat flux due to the charge exchange (CX) process, was also investigated.     

Analysis of double stub tuner control stability in a phased array antenna with strong cross-coupling

Active stub tuning with a fast ferrite tuner (FFT) has greatly increased the effectiveness of fusion ion cyclotron range of frequency (ICRF) systems (50–100 MHz) by allowing for the antenna system to respond dynamically to changes in the plasma load impedance such as during the L–H transition or edge localized modes (ELMs). A high power waveguide double-stub tuner is under development for use with the Alcator C-Mod lower hybrid current drive (LHCD) system at 4.6 GHz. The amplitude and relative phase shift between adjacent columns of an LHCD antenna are critical for control of the launched n_|| spectrum. Adding a double-stub tuning network will perturb the phase and amplitude of the forward wave particularly if the unmatched reflection coefficient is high. This effect can be compensated by adjusting the phase of the low power microwave drive for each klystron amplifier. Cross-coupling of the reflected power between columns of the launcher must also be considered. The problem is simulated by cascading a scattering matrix for the plasma provided by a linear coupling model with the measured launcher scattering matrix and that of the FFTs. The solution is advanced in an iterative manner similar to the time-dependent behavior of the real system. System performance is presented under a range of edge density conditions from under-dense to over-dense and a range of launched n_||. Simulations predict power reflection coefficients (Γ²) of less than 1% with no contamination of the n_|| spectrum. Instability of the FFT tuning network can be problematic for certain plasma conditions and relative phasings, but reducing the control gain of the FFT network stabilizes the system.     

Design, fabrication and testing of UHV compatible high power RF devices for lower hybrid current drive system on SST-1 tokamak

Maintaining plasma current under steady state conditions is one of the most important pre-requisites for a tokamak-based reactor. Lower hybrid current drive (LHCD) system aims to drive tokamak plasma current by means of RF power. The LHCD system on SST-1 tokamak is based on two 500 kW, CW klystrons operating at 3.7 GHz. A waveguide transmission line transmits power from source to the antenna. A phased array waveguide antenna is used to couple power to the plasma. The antenna side of the transmission line is placed inside the tokamak vacuum vessel. The design and fabrication of this In-Vessel system has to satisfy the demands of high power RF as well as ultra high vacuum (UHV) compatibility. This paper describes some of the critical UHV compatible In-Vessel RF devices, their design, fabrication, and test results.     

Numerical Simulation of Modified Radial Electric Field by LHCD

Based on the electron‘s radial force equilibrium, the profiles of radial electric field in OH and LHCD phase are calculated by using a simulation code. The dependences of radial electron field on electron density and its profile and different current ratio, Irf/Ip, are given. The connections between the improvement of plasma confinement and the modified radial electric field by LHCD are discussed by comparing the calculated results with the experimental results.     

A Study of the von Neumann Stability Analysis of a Semi-implicit Numerical Method Applied Over the Radial Impurity Transport Equation in Tokamak Plasma

The radial impurity transport equation for tokamak plasma is a form of diffusion–convection–reaction equation. The impurity transport equation is solved to determine the distribution of impurity (non-fuel) ion species with different ionization states perpendicular to magnetic surfaces of tokamak plasma. The equation for each charge (ionization) state Z is a non-linear, second-order in space, first-order in time, parabolic partial differential equation coupled to the previous Z???1 and the next Z?+?1 charge states of the impurity species through its reaction term. The number of differential equations to be solved simultaneously is hence determined by the number of ionization states of the impurity species studied. The solution to the set of these coupled equations can be obtained using a semi-implicit numerical method applied on it. The present study describes the application of von Neumann stability analysis over the semi-implicit numerical method applied over the radial impurity transport equation and determines a generic stability criterion for the method. The stability analysis is further illustrated using the geometry of Aditya tokamak installed at the Institute for Plasma Research Gandhinagar, India as an example. The impurity species considered is oxygen (Atomic number?=?8). This leads to a set of eight coupled equations for charge states Z?=?1 to 8 over which von Neumann analysis is illustrated in present study.     

Long Pulse H-Mode Scenarios Sustained by RF Heating on EAST

EAST has demonstrated its capability of long pulse operation using RF heating(LHCD and ICRF)in past experiments.One key issue to realize the long pulse H-mode experiments is to sustain the plasma current for steady state operation.Based on the calculations of the transport code ONETWO and its coupled RF code GENRAY,two scenarios have been proposed to achieve the 10 s H-mode plasma with Ip=400 kA,     

DIVIMP Modeling of Impurity Transport in EAST

Simulations of carbon impurity transport in SOL/divertor plasmas with Ohmic heating on EAST tokamak were performed using the two-dimensional（2D）Monte Carlo impurity transport code DIVIMP.The background plasmas for DIVIMP simulations were externally taken from B2.5/Eirene calculation.Besides the basic output of DIVIMP,the 2D density distributions of the carbon impurity with different ionization states and neutral carbon atoms were obtained,the2D distributions of CII and CIII emissivities from C＋1and C＋2radiation respectively were also calculated.Comparison between the measured and calculated CIII emissivities showed favorable agreement,indicating that the impurity physics transport models,as implemented in the DIVIMP code,are suitable for the EAST tokamak plasma condition.     

Functions of intrinsic magnetic field line structures on lithium ion transport in the LHD plasma periphery

Plasma discharge operation with lithium coating suggests that the lithium effectively control neutral particles in the plasma periphery, which can lead to improvement of plasma parameters. The effect of lithium coating on the large helical device (LHD) for a closed helical divertor configuration is discussed from viewpoints of neutral particle and impurity ion transport in the plasma periphery. It shows that the closed helical divertor configuration can enhance the neutral particle density in the divertor region, which is enough to achieve efficient particle control, and that it can effectively confine neutral lithium atoms near divertor plates. A one-dimensional impurity (lithium) ion transport analysis along magnetic field lines on divertor legs indicates that the friction force due to the plasma flow from the main plasma is dominant over the thermal force caused by the temperature gradient on the divertor legs, which prevents lithium ion contamination in the main plasma and excessive cooling of the plasma temperature in an ergodic layer. The analysis shows that the lithium coating is compatible with LHD plasma discharge operation for the closed helical divertor configuration.     

Impurity Transport in a Simulated Gas Target Divertor

Future generation fusion reactors and tokamaks will require dissipative divertors to handle the high particle and heat loads leaving the core plasma (100–400 MW/m² in ITER). A radiative divertor is proposed as a possible scenario, utilizing a hydrogen target gas to disperse the plasma momentum and trace impurity radiation to dissipate the plasma heat flux. Introducing an impurity into the target hydrogen gas enhances the radiative power loss but may lead to a significant impurity backflow to the main plasma. Thus, impurity flow control represents a crucial design concern. Such impurity flows are studied experimentally in this thesis. The PISCES-A linear plasma device (n 3 × 10¹⁹ m^–3, kT _e 20 eV) has been used to simulate a gas target divertor. To study the transport of impurities, a trace amount of impurity gas (i.e., neon and argon) is puffed near the target plate along with the hydrogen gas. Varying the hydrogen gas puffing rate permits us to study the effects of various background plasma conditions on the transport of impurities. A 1-1/2-D fluid code has been developed to solve the continuity and momentum equations for a neutral and singly ionized impurity in a hydrogen background plasma. The results indicate an axial reduction in the impurity concentration upstream from the impurity puffing source. Impurity entrainment is more effective for higher hydrogen target pressures (and for higher hydrogen plasma densities). However, if there is a reversal of the background plasma flow, impurity particles can propagate past the plasma flow reversal point and are then no longer entrained.     

Development status of KSTAR 5 GHz LHCD system

A steady-state lower hybrid current drive (LHCD) system is under development for advanced tokamak experiments of the Korea Superconducting Tokamak Advanced Research (KSTAR) device. The KSTAR 5 GHz steady-state LHCD system is being designed to couple an input power of 2 MW for 300 s generated by four 5 GHz klystrons. For the development of this system, there are two critical issues. One is the development of a 5 GHz CW klystron for the RF source of the system. The other is the design of a steady-state LH launcher with active water cooling. In this paper, the current status of the development and design for the KSTAR steady-state LHCD system is described. For the LHCD system, aiming at a basic experimental study of 5 GHz LH wave propagation and operational experience with an LHCD system, the installation of an initial LHCD system with a capacity of 0.5 MW for 2 s is scheduled in 2010 using a 5 GHz prototype klystron and an un-cooled 1 MW launcher. The design and progress for the initial LHCD system are also presented.     

Double-null divertor configuration discharge and disruptive heat flux simulation using TSC on EAST

The tokamak simulation code (TSC) is employed to simulate the complete evolution of a disruptive discharge in the experimental advanced superconducting tokamak.The multiplication factor of the anomalous transport coefficient was adjusted to model the major disruptive discharge with double-null divertor configuration based on shot 61 916.The real-time feed-back control system for the plasma displacement was employed.Modeling results of the evolution of the poloidal field coil currents,the plasma current,the major radius,the plasma configuration all show agreement with experimental measurements.Results from the simulation show that during disruption,heat flux about 8 MW m-2 flows to the upper divertor target plate and about 6 MW m-2 flows to the lower divertor target plate.Computations predict that different amounts of heat fluxes on the divertor target plate could result by adjusting the multiplication factor of the anomalous transport coefficient.This shows that TSC has high flexibility and predictability.