Effects of resonant magnetic perturbations on radial electric fields in DIII-D tokamak

Gyrokinetic simulations of DIII-D tokamak equilibrium find that resonant magnetic perturbation (RMP) drives a neoclassical non-ambipolar electron particle flux, which causes a rapid change of equilibrium radial electric fields consistent with experimental observations during the suppression of the edge localized mode (ELM). The simulation results provide a support for the conjecture that RMP-induced changes of radial electric fields lead to the enhanced turbulent transport at the pedestal top during the ELM suppression (Taimourzadeh et al 2019 Nucl. Fusion 59 046005). Furthermore, gyrokinetic simulations of collisionless damping of zonal flows show that resonant responses to the RMP decrease the residual level of the zonal flows and damp the geodesic acoustic mode.     

Numerical simulation of plasma response to externally applied resonant magnetic perturbation on the J-TEXT tokamak

Nonlinear magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) simulations of an equilibrium on the J-TEXT tokamak with applied resonant magnetic perturbations (RMPs) are performed with NIMROD (non-ideal MHD with rotation, open discussion). Numerical simulation of plasma response to RMPs has been developed to investigate magnetic topology, plasma density and rotation profile. The results indicate that the pure applied RMPs can stimulate 2/1 mode as well as 3/1 mode by the toroidal mode coupling, and finally change density profile by particle transport. At the same time, plasma rotation plays an important role during the entire evolution process.     

Power supply for generating frequency-variable resonant magnetic perturbations on the J-TEXT tokamak

To further research the response of the tearing mode(TM) to dynamic resonant magnetic perturbation(DRMP) on the J-TEXT tokamak, a modified series resonant inverter power supply(MSRIPS) with a function of discrete variable frequency is designed for DRMP coils in this study. The MSRIPS is an AC–DC–AC converter, including a phase-controlled rectifier, an LC filter, an insulated gate bipolar transistor(IGBT) full bridge, a matching transformer, three resonant capacitors with different capacitance values, and three corresponding silicon controlled rectifier(SCR) switches. The function of discrete variable frequency is realized by switching over different resonant capacitors with corresponding SCR switches while matching the corresponding driving frequency of the IGBT full bridge. A detailed switching strategy of the SCR switch is put forward to obtain sinusoidal current waveform and realize current waveform smooth transition during frequency conversion. In addition, a resistor and thyristor bleeder is designed to protect the SCR switch from overvoltage. Manufacturing of the MSRIPS is completed, and the MSRIPS equipment can output current with an amplitude of 1.5 kA when its working frequency jumps among different frequencies. Moreover, the current waveform is sinusoidal and can smoothly transition during frequency conversion. Furthermore, the transition time when the current amplitude rises from zero to a steady state is less than 2 ms during frequency conversion. By using the MSRIPS, the expected discrete variable frequency DRMP is generated, and the phenomenon of the TM being locked to the discrete variable frequency DRMP is observed on the J-TEXT tokamak.     

A brief review: effects of resonant magnetic perturbation on classical and neoclassical tearing modes in tokamaks

This paper reviews the effects of resonant magnetic perturbation (RMP) on classical tearing modes (TMs) and neoclassical tearing modes (NTMs) from the theory, experimental discovery and numerical results with a focus on four major aspects: (i) mode mitigation, where the TM/NTM is totally suppressed or partly mitigated by the use of RMP; (ii) mode penetration, which means a linearly stable TM/NTM triggered by the externally applied RMP; (iii) mode locking, namely an existing rotating magnetic island braked and finally stopped by the RMP; (iv) mode unlocking, as the name suggests, it is the reverse of the mode locking process. The key mechanism and physical picture of above phenomena are revealed and summarized.     

Simulations of energetic alpha particle loss in the presence of toroidal field ripple in the CFETR tokamak

Energetic alpha particle losses with the toroidal field ripple and the Coulomb collision in the CFETR tokamak have been simulated by using the orbit-following code GYCAVA for the steady-state and hybrid scenarios. The effects of the outer boundary and the ripple amplitude on alpha particle losses have been investigated. The loss fractions and heat loads of alpha particles in the hybrid scenario are much smaller than those in the steady-state scenario for a significant ripple amplitude. Some alpha particles in the plasma core are lost due to the ripple stochastic transport for a large ripple amplitude parameter. The heat loads with the last closed flux surface boundary are different from those with the wall boundary for the CFETR tokamak, which can be explained by typical alpha particle orbits. Discrete heat load spots have been observed in alpha particle loss simulations, which is due to the ripple well loss. The transition of the lost alpha particle behavior from the ripple stochastic diffusion to the ripple well trapping has been identified in our CFETR simulations. The Coulomb collision effect is responsible for this transition.     

Study of the spectrum effect on thethreshold of resonant magnetic perturbationpenetration on J-TEXT

The spectrum effect on the penetration of resonant magnetic perturbation (RMP) is studied withupgraded in-vessel RMP coils on J-TEXT. The poloidal spectrum of the RMP field, especiallythe amplitudes of 2/1 and 3/1 components, can be varied by the phase difference between theupper and lower coil rows, Δϕ=ϕ_top−ϕ_bottom, where ϕ_top and ϕ_bottom are the toroidal phases ofthe n = 1 field of each coil row. The type of RMP penetration is found to be related to Δϕ,including the RMP penetration of either 2/1 or 3/1 RMP and the successive penetrations of 3/1RMP followed by the 2/1 RMP. For cases with penetration of only one RMP component, thepenetration thresholds measured by the corresponding resonant component are close for variousΔ_f. However, the 2/1 RMP penetration threshold is significantly reduced if the 3/1 lockedisland is formed in advance. The changes in the rotation profile due to 3/1 locked islandformation could partially contribute to the reduction of the 2/1 thresholds.     

Effects of resonant magnetic perturbation on locked mode of neoclassical tearing modes

The effects of externally applied resonant magnetic perturbation (RMP) on the locked mode of the neoclassical tearing mode (NTM) are numerically investigated by means of a set of reduced magnetohydrodynamic equations. It is found that, for a small bootstrap current fraction, three regimes, namely the slight suppression regime, the small locked island (SLI) regime and the big locked island (BLI) regime, are discovered with the increase of RMP strength. For a much higher bootstrap current fraction, however, a new oscillation regime appears instead of the SLI regime, although the other regimes still remain. The physical process in each regime is analyzed in detail based on the phase difference between the NTM and the RMP. Moreover, the critical values of the RMP in both SLI and BLI regimes are obtained, and their dependence on key plasma parameters is discussed as well.     

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.     

Gas pressure effect on plasma transport in a magnetic-filtered radio-frequency plasma source

Volume negative ion production relies on a magnetic filter(MF), where the plasma downstream of the MF is characterized by a strip-like pattern that consists of a bright and dense plasma region. In this work, we study, in a radio-frequency plasma source, the effects of operating pressure on this strip. This investigation, conducted using a Langmuir probe, shows that the plasma uniformity might be controlled through the gas pressure. Moreover, the operating pressure determines on which hemi-cylinder(side of magnetic field lines) the strip forms. This side inversion of the high-density plasma hemi-cylinder is due to an inversion of an ambipolar electric field that changes the E?×?B drift direction.     

Diffusion of ions in an electrostatic stochastic field and a space-dependent unperturbed magnetic field

We calculate the diffusion coefficients for ions moving in a prescribed electromagnetic field. Thefield is considered to be a superposition of an electrostatic stochastic field and a space-dependent and sheared magnetic field. We have considered as parameters involved in the calculation of the diffusion coefficients the shear ion Kubo number K_s~(ion), the electrostatic Kubo number K, the parallel shear ion Kubo number K_(zs)~(ion), and the parallel thermal ion Kubo number K_z~(ion).A geometrical parameter which is the measure of the product of the stochastic perpendicular correlation length and the gradient in the magnetic field strength(see definitions in the text) is found not to be important in our calculation. The results concerning the diffusion coefficients obtained in our model are in agreement with experimental data and with those corresponding to other models, and the neoclassical and anomalous values for the diffusion coefficients are obtained.     

Study on divertor heat flux under n = 3 and n = 4 resonant magnetic perturbations using infrared thermography diagnostic in EAST

Resonant magnetic perturbations (RMPs) with high toroidal mode number n are considered for controlling edge-localized modes (ELMs) and divertor heat flux in future ITER H-mode operations. In this paper, characteristics of divertor heat flux under high-n RMPs (n = 3 and 4) in H-mode plasma are investigated using newly upgraded infrared thermography diagnostic in EAST. Additional splitting strike point (SSP) accompanying with ELM suppression is observed under both RMPs with n = 3 and n = 4, the SSP in heat flux profile agrees qualitatively with the modeled magnetic footprint. Although RMPs suppress ELMs, they increase the stationary heat flux during ELM suppression. The dependence of heat flux on ${q}_{95}$ during ELM suppression is preliminarily investigated, and further splitting in the original strike point is observed at ${q}_{95}=4$ during ELM suppression. In terms of ELM pulses, the presence of RMPs shows little influence on transient heat flux distribution.     

Understanding the changing mechanism of arc characteristics in ultrasound-magnetic field coaxial hybrid gas tungsten arc welding

Ultrasound-magnetic field coaxial hybrid Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (U-M-GTAW) is proposed as a means to control arc characteristics. The arc characteristics and the mechanism to change them, in an ultrasound-magnetic field coaxial hybrid GTAW, were studied by both experimental and theoretical analyses. The results showed that a periodic rotation and compression of the arc shape were obtained in U-M-GTAW and the arc energy was also enhanced. The most obvious compression of the arc shape in U-M-GTAW was obtained, compared with GTAW, M-GTAW and U-GTAW. At the same time, a periodic rotation of the arc was observed in U-M-GTAW. The geometric parameters of the arc shape in U-M-GTAW are reduced more than double compared with traditional GTAW. The arc voltage in the hybrid GTAW was increased, especially in the U-M-GTAW. The electromagnetic force and acoustic radiation force were the main factors for the change of arc characteristics in the U-M-GTAW.     

Behavior of multiple modes before and during minor disruption with the external resonant magnetic perturbations on J-TEXT tokamak

The behavior of multiple modes before and during minor disruption with the external resonant magnetic perturbations (RMPs) has been studied on a J-TEXT tokamak. The main component of RMPs is m/n = 2/1, where m and n are the numbers of the poloidal and toroidal modes, respectively. During the mode-locking caused by RMPs, it is found that before a minor or a major disruption (if there is no minor disruption), strong oscillations in both electron temperature and density occur if the edge safety factor q_a > 3. The analysis shows that the oscillations are caused by the m/n = 3/1 mode. In addition, using the ECE, Mirnov coils and 2D electron cyclotron emission imaging diagnostic systems, it is found that a thermal collapse occurs on the inner side of the 2/1 magnetic island during the minor disruption, and before the collapse, a 3/2 island increases, after the collapse, the 3/2 island may disappear. Moreover, the study also shows that these 3/1, 2/1 and 3/2 modes play roles in the thermal collapse of disruptions.     

Mitigation of blackout problem for reentry vehicle in traveling magnetic field with induced current

In this paper, a novel solution mitigating the radio blackout problem is proposed, which improves existing traveling magnetic field (TMF)-based methods. The most significant advance lies in replacing the external injection with self-induced current, which does not require electrodes. The improved analytical model is derived to evaluate the electron density reduction taking into consideration the self-induced current for various TMF velocities. The plasma reduction performance is analyzed for several conditions including the total absence of injected current. The results show that the velocity may be used to trade off the injected current and, when sufficiently large, eliminates the need for an injected current while mitigating radio blackout. The effectiveness of this solution to the blackout problem is demonstrated in commonly used aerospace communication bands. With a field strength of less than 0.15 T, increasing the velocity from 40 m s⁻¹ to 3100 m s⁻¹ is all that is required to obviate the need for an injected current. Moreover, typical reduction ratios for electronic density tolerance (2, 1.9, 1.75 and 3 times for the L-, S-, C- and X-bands, respectively, at an altitude of 40 km) remain unchanged. Increasing the velocity of the TMF is much easier than injecting current via a metal electrode into a high-temperature flow field. The TMF method appears practical in regard to possible future applications.     

Numerical study on the loss of fast ions produced by minority ion cyclotron resonance heating in EAST

The classical prompt loss of fast ions produced by minority ion cyclotron resonance heating(ICRH)is studied by a guiding center orbit following code in the Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak(EAST).It is found that the loss of fast ions produced by ICRH mainly appears in both ends of the resonance layer,while the loss of fast ions in the middle resonance layer is very small.The dominant fast loss comes from trapped ions,rather than from passing ions.Controlling the location of resonance layer at the plasma core may be more beneficial to the EAST tokamak ICRH.In addition,the loss distribution of fast ions is studied.The results show that the fast ions are mainly lost near the midplane in the poloidal direction,but almost uniformly in the toroidal direction.Moreover,we investigate the dependence of fast ion loss on the ICRH power.The simulation results show that the loss fraction of fast ions in both ends of the resonance region increases with the ion cyclotron range of frequencies(ICRF)power,but barely affects the loss of fast ions in the middle region.     

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.     

Numerical study of the effect of aft-loaded magnetic field on multiple ionizations in Hall thruster

It is assumed that the shift of a strong magnetic field region with a positive gradient from exit plane to outside, namely the transit from a normal loaded magnetic field to an aft-loaded one, enhances the multiple ionization process in the magnetically shielded Hall thruster. To confirm this conjecture, a comparative study is carried out numerically with a particle-in-cell method. The simulation results prove that compared with the normal loaded magnetic field, the application of aft-loaded magnetic field enhances the multiple ionization process. This study further analyzes the ionization characteristics of the transition from low-charged ions to high-charged ions under two magnetic field conditions and the influence of the magnetic strength of aft-loaded magnetic field on the multiple ionization characteristics. The study described herein is useful for understanding the discharge characteristics of Hall thruster with an aft-loaded magnetic field.     

On the heating mechanism of electron cyclotron resonance thruster immerged in a non-uniform magnetic field

To study the heating mechanism of electron cyclotron resonance thruster(ECRT) immersed in a non-uniform magnetic field, experiments and simulations are performed based on an electron cyclotron resonance plasma source at ASIPP. It is found that the first harmonic of electron cyclotron resonance is essential for plasma ignition at high magnetic field(0.0875 T), while the plasma can sustain without the first and second harmonics of electron cyclotron resonance at low magnetic field(till 0.0170 T). Evidence of radial hollow density profile indicates that upper hybrid resonance, which has strong edge heating effect, is the heating mechanism of low-field ECRT. The heating mode transition from electron cyclotron resonance to upper hybrid resonance is also revealed. Interestingly, the evolutions of electron temperature and electron density with input power experience a ‘delayed' jump, which may be correlated with the different power levels required for cyclotron and ionization. Moreover, when the field strength decreased, the variation of electron density behaves in an opposite trend with that of electron temperature,implying a possible competition of power deposition between them. The present work is of great interest for understanding the plasma discharge in ECRT especially immersed in a non-uniform magnetic field, and designing efficient ECRT using low magnetic field for economic space applications.     

Simulation study on the influence of magnetic field in the near-anode region on anode power deposition of ATON-type Hall thruster

The highest deposition of power and temperature is always near the cusp of the ATON-type Hall thruster. This shows that when there are electrons gathering at the cusp, the distribution of heat load will be uniform, which will potentially damage the reliability. Therefore, we optimize the magnetic field near the anode. We changed the magnetic field characteristics in the near-anode region with an additional magnetic screen, and performed numerical simulation with particle-incell simulation. The simulation results show that the magnetic field of the thruster with the additional magnetic screen can alleviate the over-concentration of power deposition on the anode and reduce the power deposition in the anode by 20%, while ensuring that the overall magnetic field characteristics do not change significantly.     

Effects of the critical breakdown path on the ignition performance in heaterless hollow cathodes

The critical breakdown path(CBP) has a significant impact on the breakdown voltage curve and the ignition time of heaterless hollow cathodes(HHCs). To determine the pattern of the variation in the CBP position and its impact on ignition performance, a numerical model named the CBP evaluation(CBPE) was established in this paper to calculate the CBP of a HHC. The CBPE model can be used to screen various potential breakdown paths to identify those that are most likely to satisfy the Townsend breakdown conditions, which are denoted as CBPs. To verify the calculation accuracy of the CBPE model, 4.5 A-level HHC ignition tests were conducted on HHCs with three different structures. By comparing the test results and the calculated results of the breakdown voltage, the calculation errors of the CBPE under three HHC conditions ranged from 1.6% to 5.8%, and the trends of the calculated results were consistent with those of the test results. The ignition test also showed the characteristics of the breakdown voltage curve and the ignition time for the three HHCs. Based on the CBPE model, an in-depth analysis was conducted on the mechanism of the patterns revealed by the tests. The main conclusions are presented as follows:(1) the CBP always shifts from the long path to the short path in the HHCs with an increasing gas flow rate; and(2) the ignition time of the HHCs depends on the position of the CBP because different CBP positions can cause different mechanisms of heat transfer from the plasma to the emitter. This study can guide the optimization of the CBP position and the corresponding ignition times of HHCs.