Effect of local toroidal flow on double-tearing modes in cylindrical geometry

The effect of local toroidal flow (LTF) on double-tearing modes (DTMs) is investigated in cylindrical geometry using the reduced magnetohydrodynamics (RMHD) model. The results indicate that the LTF between the two rational surfaces is the dominant suppression effect on DTMs. The suppression effect is enhanced with the flow width increasing, and the DTMs become more stable with the increase of the shear of the LTF between the two rational surfaces. So, in the reversed shear magnetic field configuration, the local flow is driven between the two rational surfaces, which can effectively suppress the development of DTMs and maintain the high-performance state.     

Parallel filtering in global gyrokinetic simulations

In this work, a Fourier solver [B.F. McMillan, S. Jolliet, A. Bottino, P. Angelino, T.M. Tran, L. Villard, Comp. Phys. Commun. 181 (2010) 715] is implemented in the global Eulerian gyrokinetic code GT5D [Y. Idomura, H. Urano, N. Aiba, S. Tokuda, Nucl. Fusion 49 (2009) 065029] and in the global Particle-In-Cell code ORB5 [S. Jolliet, A. Bottino, P. Angelino, R. Hatzky, T.M. Tran, B.F. McMillan, O. Sauter, K. Appert, Y. Idomura, L. Villard, Comp. Phys. Commun. 177 (2007) 409] in order to reduce the memory of the matrix associated with the field equation. This scheme is verified with linear and nonlinear simulations of turbulence. It is demonstrated that the straight-field-line angle is the coordinate that optimizes the Fourier solver, that both linear and nonlinear turbulent states are unaffected by the parallel filtering, and that the k_∥ spectrum is independent of plasma size at fixed normalized poloidal wave number.     

Free energy cascade in gyrokinetic turbulence

In gyrokinetic theory, the quadratic nonlinearity is known to play an important role in the dynamics by redistributing (in a conservative fashion) the free energy between the various active scales. In the present study, the free energy transfer is analyzed for the case of ion temperature gradient driven turbulence. It is shown that it shares many properties with the energy transfer in fluid turbulence. In particular, one finds a (strongly) local, forward (from large to small scales) cascade of free energy in the plane perpendicular to the background magnetic field. These findings shed light on some fundamental properties of plasma turbulence, and encourage the development of large-eddy-simulation techniques for gyrokinetics.     

The global version of the gyrokinetic turbulence code GENE

The understanding and prediction of transport due to plasma microturbulence is a key open problem in modern plasma physics, and a grand challenge for fusion energy research. Ab initio simulations of such small-scale, low-frequency turbulence are to be based on the gyrokinetic equations, a set of nonlinear integro-differential equations in reduced (five-dimensional) phase space. In the present paper, the extension of the well-established and widely used gyrokinetic code GENE [F. Jenko, W. Dorland, M. Kotschenreuther, B.N. Rogers, Electron temperature gradient driven turbulence, Phys. Plasmas 7 (2000) 1904–1910] from a radially local to a radially global (nonlocal) version is described. The necessary modifications of both the basic equations and the employed numerical methods are detailed, including, e.g., the change from spectral methods to finite difference and interpolation techniques in the radial direction and the implementation of sources and sinks. In addition, code verification studies and benchmarks are presented.     

Solving the 3D MHD equilibrium equations in toroidal geometry by Newton’s method

We describe a novel form of Newton’s method for computing 3D MHD equilibria. The method has been implemented as an extension to the hybrid spectral/finite-difference Princeton Iterative Equilibrium Solver (PIES) which normally uses Picard iteration on the full nonlinear MHD equilibrium equations. Computing the Newton functional derivative numerically is not feasible in a code of this type but we are able to do the calculation analytically in magnetic coordinates by considering the response of the plasma’s Pfirsch–Schlüter currents to small changes in the magnetic field. Results demonstrate a significant advantage over Picard iteration in many cases, including simple finite-β stellarator equilibria. The method shows promise in cases that are difficult for Picard iteration, although it is sensitive to resolution and imperfections in the magnetic coordinates, and further work is required to adapt it to the presence of magnetic islands and stochastic regions.     

Magnetic stochasticity in gyrokinetic simulations of plasma microturbulence

Analysis of the magnetic field structure from electromagnetic simulations of tokamak ion temperature gradient turbulence demonstrates that the magnetic field can be stochastic even at very low plasma pressure. The degree of magnetic stochasticity is quantified by evaluating the magnetic diffusion coefficient. We find that the magnetic stochasticity fails to produce a dramatic increase in the electron heat conductivity because the magnetic diffusion coefficient remains small.     

Electromagnetic gyrokinetic δf particle-in-cell turbulence simulation with realistic equilibrium profiles and geometry

The δf particle-in-cell method for gyrokinetic simulations with kinetic electrons and electromagnetic perturbations [Y. Chen, S. Parker, J. Comput. Phys. 189 (2003) 463] is extended to include arbitrary toroidal equilibrium profiles and flux-surface shapes. The domain is an arbitrarily sized toroidal slice with periodicity assumed in toroidal direction. It is global radially and poloidally along the magnetic field. The differential operators and Jacobians are represented numerically which is a quite general approach with wide applicability. Discretization of the field equations is described. The issue of domain decomposition and particle load balancing is addressed. A derivation of the split-weight scheme is given, and numerical observations are given as to what algorithmic change leads to stable algorithm. It is shown that in the final split-weight algorithm the equation for the rate of change of the electric potential is solved in a way that is incompatible with the quasi-neutrality condition on the grid scale. This incompatibility, while negligible on the scale of interest, leads to better numerical stability on the grid scale. Some examples of linear simulations are presented to show the effects of flux-surface shaping on the linear mode growth rates. The issue of long-term weight growth in δf simulation and the effect of discrete particle noise are briefly discussed.     

Dimits shift in realistic gyrokinetic plasma-turbulence simulations

In simulations of turbulent plasma transport due to long wavelength (k perpendicular rhoi < or = 1) electrostatic drift-type instabilities, we find a persistent nonlinear up-shift of the effective threshold. Next-generation tokamaks will likely benefit from the higher effective threshold for turbulent transport, and transport models should incorporate suitable corrections to linear thresholds. The gyrokinetic simulations reported here are more realistic than previous reports of a Dimits shift because they include nonadiabatic electron dynamics, strong collisional damping of zonal flows, and finite electron and ion collisionality together with realistic shaped magnetic geometry. Reversing previously reported results based on idealized adiabatic electrons, we find that increasing collisionality reduces the heat flux because collisionality reduces the nonadiabatic electron microinstability drive.     

The sine-Gordon equation in toroidal magnetic-fusion experiments

This paper presents a new nonlinear model which describes localized magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) modes in reversed-field pinch (RFP) experiments. To date, nearly all experimental and theoretical work in this area has relied on the use of Fourier decomposition of spatial variations as a function of time. Moreover, due to the complexity of this nonlinear problem, previous work has been restricted to the analysis of a relatively small number of modes. In contrast, the model studied in this paper, based on the damped-driven sine-Gordon (DDSG) equation, addresses the full nonlinearity, does not rely on Fourier decomposition, and does not require the range of the nonlinearity to be small. A specific consequence of working with the full nonlinearity is the existence of solitary waves in dispersive media. These solitary waves, a key part of the model, are used to describe the so-called slinky mode propagating in the plasma. A remarkable resemblance is seen between the waveforms obtained from experiments and the mathematical predictions of the new model.     

Particle pinch in gyrokinetic simulations of closed field-line systems

Gyrokinetic simulations of small-scale turbulent transport in a closed magnetic field-line plasma geometry are presented. The simulations are potentially applicable to dipolar systems such as the levitated dipole experiment (LDX) [J. Kesner, Plasma Phys. Rep. 23, 742 (1997).] and planetary magnetospheres, as well as simpler systems such as the Z pinch. We report here for the first time the existence of a robust particle (and weaker temperature) pinch regime, in which the particles are transported up the density gradient. The particle pinch is driven by non-MHD entropy-mode turbulence at k(⊥) ρ(i) ～ 1 and particle pinch appears at larger η ≡ L(n)/L(T) ? 0.7, consistent with quasilinear theory. Our results suggest that entropy-mode transport will drive the LDX plasma profiles toward a state with η ～ 0.7 and pressure gradients that are near marginal ideal MHD interchange-mode stability.     

Self-reversal phenomena of toroidal current by reversing the external toroidal field in helicity-driven toroidal plasmas

In order to understand self-organization in helicity-driven systems, we have investigated the dynamics of low-aspect-ratio toroidal plasmas by decreasing the external toroidal field and reversing its sign in time. Consequently, we have discovered that the helicity-driven toroidal plasma relaxes towards the flipped state. Surprisingly, it has been observed that not only toroidal flux but also poloidal flux reverses sign spontaneously during the relaxation process. The self-reversal of the magnetic fields is attributed to the nonlinear growth of the n=1 kink instability of the central open flux.     

正对电极结构碳化硅光导开关的电路模型

利用SilvacoTCAD软件,在532 nm激光辐照下,对正对电极结构6H-SiC光导开关（SiC-PCSS）瞬态电流电场的分布及不同光功率下的伏安特性进行了仿真。结果表明:载流子速率在强场下达到饱和,并且电流电场在主要电流区域沿垂直于激光辐照方向均匀分布。提出SiC-PCSS电路模型的建模依据,可以近似条件化简得到PCSS电阻一般表达式的解,建立SiC-PCSS载流子迁移率随电场变化的PSpice模型,分析讨论了外电路参数对SiC-PCSS导通过程的影响。该模型模拟结果与已有实验结果吻合良好。     

正对电极结构碳化硅光导开关的电路模型

利用SilvacoTCAD软件,在532 nm激光辐照下,对正对电极结构6H-SiC光导开关（SiC-PCSS）瞬态电流电场的分布及不同光功率下的伏安特性进行了仿真。结果表明：载流子速率在强场下达到饱和,并且电流电场在主要电流区域沿垂直于激光辐照方向均匀分布。提出SiC-PCSS电路模型的建模依据,可以近似条件化简得到PCSS电阻一般表达式的解,建立SiC-PCSS载流子迁移率随电场变化的PSpice模型,分析讨论了外电路参数对SiC-PCSS导通过程的影响。该模型模拟结果与已有实验结果吻合良好。     

Thermal 3D modeling system based on 3-view geometry

In this paper, we propose a novel thermal three-dimensional (3D) modeling system that includes 3D shape, visual, and thermal infrared information and solves a registration problem among these three types of information. The proposed system consists of a projector, a visual camera and, a thermal camera (PVT). To generate 3D shape information, we use a structured light technique, which consists of a visual camera and a projector. A thermal camera is added to the structured light system in order to provide thermal information. To solve the correspondence problem between the three sensors, we use three-view geometry. Finally, we obtain registered PVT data, which includes visual, thermal, and 3D shape information. Among various potential applications such as industrial measurements, biological experiments, military usage, and so on, we have adapted the proposed method to biometrics, particularly for face recognition. With the proposed method, we obtain multi-modal 3D face data that includes not only textural information but also data regarding head pose, 3D shape, and thermal information. Experimental results show that the performance of the proposed face recognition system is not limited by head pose variation which is a serious problem in face recognition.