High frequency fast magnetoacoustic modes in the plasma core

Fast magnetoacoustic modes (FMM) [known also as compressional Alfvén eigenmodes (CAE) and magnetosonic modes] with frequencies exceeding or equal the ion gyrofrequency are considered. It is shown that edge-localized FMM, which presumably are responsible for the superthermal ion cyclotron emission (ICE) observed in many experiments on tokamaks and stellarators, represent a particular case of these modes. In general, FMMs with frequencies above/about the ion gyrofrequency have different radial locations and structures. They can extend over a large part of the plasma cross section and even can have maximum amplitudes at the magnetic axis. Modes with the same frequency and the same poloidal mode number are multiple, having different radial structures. These results are obtained in the approximation of cylindrical plasma with one-ion species.     

New Alfven continuum gaps and global modes induced by toroidal flow

Continuous magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) spectra in tokamaks with toroidal rotation are studied. In the corotating frame, the linear perturbations experience Coriolis and centrifugal effects. The latter create Alfven frequency gaps on rational surfaces resonant with the perturbations. New global eigenmodes are located inside these gaps. These modes may be used for MHD spectroscopy. In contrast to the usual gaps and toroidal Alfven eigenmodes, the new flow-induced gaps and global modes are in the low frequency range so that they will have important implications for stability as well.     

Lower hybrid resonance at low collision frequencies

For low collision frequencies the power transfer to a plasma in the domain of the lower hybrid resonance is measured under linear conditions. Geometrical resonances due to radial eigenmodes are observed to be strongly suppressed as compared to theoretical expectations.     

Toroidal plasma resonances and electron transit time damping for heating large thermonuclear tori

We advocate a new method consisting of combining the large amplification of the r.f. field strength inside the plasma due to a magnetosonic resonance or to a torsional wave resonance of the toroidal cavity with its collision-less damping resulting from electron transit time damping.     

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采用本征模式的数值打靶方法研究了离散阿尔芬本征模在DⅢ-D高性能运行条件下的物理特性,包括负磁剪切位形、高性能加热、正反中性束注入、内部输运垒以及高自举电流和甚高约束运行状态对这种阿尔芬模式的影响。在DⅢ-D托卡马克装置负磁剪切位形及先进运行状态实验参数下这些离散阿尔芬本征模存在于宽的径向区域,且具有广泛的本征频谱;高性能加热、同向中性束注入以及内部输运垒的存在有利于产生多个较深的气球模驱动势阱,由之得以很好地形成这种阿尔芬束缚态本征模;在高自举电流和甚高约束运行条件下这些离散阿尔芬本征模束缚态能够在更广的径向区域存在,且可具有较高的本征频率。另外,参照DⅢ-D装置放电实验数据的时间演变情况,这些离散阿尔芬本征模能在很宽的运行参数范围内出现,使之成为该类大型托卡马克实验中可能广泛存在的潜在不稳定性。     

Effect of poloidal density variation of neutral atoms on the tokamak edge

Neutral atoms in the tokamak edge affect the electric field and plasma flow through charge exchange. Here, it is shown that these effects depend sensitively on the poloidal location of the atoms. It is found that the radial electric field and toroidal flow velocity in a collisional edge plasma are largest if the atoms are concentrated on the inboard side. This feature may explain MAST and COMPASS-D observations indicating easier H-mode access for inboard gas puffing. The results suggest an external means of controlling the toroidal flow and radial electric field and their shear, and have motivated further MAST measurements appearing to support the predictions.     

Radial structure of Alfvén eigenmodes in the DIII-D tokamak through electron-cyclotron-emission measurements

The spatial structure of toroidal Alfvén eigenmodes and reversed shear Alfvén eigenmodes in DIII-D is obtained from electron-cyclotron-emission measurements. Peak measured temperature perturbations are of similar magnitude for both toroidal Alfvén eigenmodes and reversed shear Alfvén eigenmodes and found to be deltaT(e)/T(e) approximately equal to 0.5%. Simultaneous measurements of density fluctuations using beam-emission spectroscopy indicate deltan(e)/n(e) approximately equal to 0.25%. Predictions of the measured temperature and density perturbation profiles as well as deltaT(e)/deltan(e) from the ideal magnetohydrodynamic code NOVA are in close agreement with experiment.     

Diffusion cooling in a magnetic field

Diffusion cooling of electrons in a weakly ionized plasma in the presence of a magnetic field is studied using the balance equations of momentum transfer theory, well known in "swarm" or test particle analysis. It is shown that for a cylindrical, axially symmetric system, the electron temperature profile can be "hollow" (i.e., T(e)相似文献   

On the low-threshold parametric mechanism of the anomalous power absorption in electron cyclotron resonance heating experiments in toroidal devices

The experimental conditions that facilitate the excitation of parametric decay instabilities upon the electron cyclotron resonance heating of a plasma at the second harmonic extraordinary wave in tokamaks and stellarators and, as a result, make anomalous absorption of microwave power possible have been analyzed. It has been shown that, in the case of a nonmonotonic radial profile of the plasma density, when the beam of electron cyclotron waves passes near the equatorial plane of a toroidal device, the parametric excitation of electron Bernstein waves, as well as the generation of ion Bernstein waves propagating from the parametric decay region to the nearest ion cyclotron harmonic, where they efficiently interact with ions, is possible. The proposed theoretical model can explain the anomalous generation of accelerated ions observed upon electron cyclotron heating in small and moderate toroidal facilities.     

HT-7超导托卡马克边界等离子体参量及其涨落的实验研究

利用径向可移动朗缪尔三探针和马赫探针对HT-7超导托卡马克边界等离子体参量及其涨落进行了空时空分辨测量.给出了欧姆放电及其与低杂波电流驱动共同作用下边界等离子体电位φ_p、电子温度T_e和电子密度n_e及其涨落的径向分布.实验表明,在限制器附近,存在一由E_r×B确定的极向旋转速度剪切层.在剪切层内,T_e和n_e分布较陡,且φ_p,T_e和n_e的相对涨落水平下降明显.这说明剪切层对边界区的等离子体涨落具有抑制作用.低杂波驱动使径向电场梯度变陡,从而使剪切程度加深但对剪切层宽度无影响.此外,测量表明等离子体环向速度马赫数M_φ存在径向梯度.环向流的这种径向梯度可能是形成径向电场所需的平均极向流的一种重要驱动源 关键词： 托卡马克 边界涨落 低杂波驱动     

HL-2A装置反剪切阿尔芬本征模实验观测与模拟验证

利用 AMC 程序获取了不同最小安全因子( q_min )情况下反剪切阿尔芬本征模频率(RSAE)的变化特征： 当最小安全因子 q_min >1 时,RSAE 频率随着 q_min 增大而增大;当 q_min <1 时,RSAE 频率随着 q_min 减小而增大。这 与简化 RSAE 色散关系给出的频率相符。在 HL-2A 电流爬升期间和锯齿期间分别发现了 q_min >1 和 q_min <1 情况下 缓慢向上扫频的模。这些模的频率介于环向阿尔芬本征模和比压阿尔芬本征模之间,与 AMC 得到的 RSAE 模频 率一致,模的径向结构由单一极向谐波组成,并且高度局域在 q_min 附近,具有典型的 RSAE 特征。     

Reduced magnetohydrodynamics of a toroidal plasma with flows

A simplified system of MHD equations describing the nonlinear dynamics of a toroidal plasma in a high magnetic field is obtained by correct elimination of the fast magnetosonic oscillations. In contrast to earlier analogs (Kadomtsev-Pogutse, Strauss, and other equations), the symmetries and the corresponding conservation laws characteristic of the initial complete system of MHD equations are preserved in the system of equations obtained here. This makes it possible to use the system obtained here to analyze the dynamics of plasma with flow and to avoid error accumulation in the analysis of the long-time evolution of disturbances.     

On a new mechanism of excitation of the absolute parametric decay instability of an electromagnetic wave in experiments on electron cyclotron resonance heating in toroidal devices

Experimental conditions under which the low-threshold absolute parametric decay instability of an electromagnetic wave with extraordinary polarization at the electron cyclotron resonance heating of a plasma at the second harmonic resonance in toroidal devices are analyzed. A new mechanism is proposed for the localization of a daughter electrostatic wave in the toroidal direction in the region of a high-power pump beam. This mechanism, along with the two-dimensional localization of the daughter wave because of a nonmonotonic radial profile of the plasma density and the poloidal inhomogeneity of the magnetic field, can be responsible for the parametric excitation of a three-dimensional cavity for this wave and, as a result, low-threshold absolute decay instability of the pump wave.     

Eigenmodes for electromagnetic waves propagating in a toroidalcavity

A solution has been attempted by means of the Helmholtz equation for an electromagnetic wave propagating in an empty torus in a system of toroidal coordinates. The electromagnetic fields are expressed in terms of the Hertz vector to obtain a scalar Helmholtz equation. The latter has been solved by making use of an inverse aspect ratio expansion of the solution. Unlike most previous workers, the authors have obtained their solutions in terms of hypergeometric functions whose static limit is the toroidal harmonics. The cylindrical solutions in terms of Bessel functions can also be recovered by taking the appropriate large aspect ratio limit. The eigenmodes, with arbitrary toroidal and poloidal mode numbers, have been obtained by applying the boundary conditions on the metallic walls of infinite conductivity, and they cannot be distinguished as TE or TM modes. Eigenfrequencies for various toroidal and poloidal mode numbers are plotted against the inverse aspect ratio. First-order approximations to the fields in the toroidal cavity have also been derived     

用偏压限制器控制KT－5C托卡马克等离子体边缘电场的实验研究

在托卡马克ＫＴ－５Ｃ上，我们首次采用可灵活组合的多块限制器进行了施加偏压以控制等离子体边缘电场的实验，结果表明，在本装置上限制器加正偏压优于加负偏压，正偏压改变等离子体边缘电场效果更明显。偏压限制器收集面积、纵场和偏置电压的大小对偏压效果的影响都是敏感的。改变限制器收集面积和偏压导致的边缘电场的变化最终将趋于饱和，另外发现，偏压限制器与等离子体柱的相对位置对等离子体边缘电场的影响也是重要的。     

Effects of Applied DC Radial Electric Fields on Particle Transport in a Bumpy Torus Plasma

The toroidal ring of plasma contained in the NASA Lewis Bumpy Torus may be biased to positive or negative potentials approaching 50 kilovolts by applying DC voltage to twelve or fewer midplane electrode rings. The electric fields, which are responsible for raising the ions to high energies by ExB/B2 drift, then point radially outward or inward. The profiles of plasma number density are observed to be flat or triangular across the plasma diameter. The absence of a second derivative in the density profile, combined with the flat electron temperature profiles which are observed, implies that the radial transport processes are not diffusional in nature and are dominated by the strong radial electric fields which are applied to the plasma. Evidence from a paired comparison test shows that the plasma number density and confinement time can increase more than an order of magnitude if the electric field acting along the minor radius of the toroidal plasma points inward, relative to the values observed when the electric field points radially outward. Some characteristic data taken under nonoptimized conditions yielded the highest plasma number density (2.7 × 1011/cc on axis) and the longest particle containment times (1.9 milliseconds) observed so far in this experiment.     

Toroidal momentum pinch velocity due to the coriolis drift effect on small scale instabilities in a toroidal plasma

In this Letter, the influence of the "Coriolis drift" on small scale instabilities in toroidal plasmas is shown to generate a toroidal momentum pinch velocity. Such a pinch results because the Coriolis drift generates a coupling between the density and temperature perturbations on the one hand and the perturbed parallel flow velocity on the other. A simple fluid model is used to highlight the physics mechanism and gyro-kinetic calculations are performed to accurately assess the magnitude of the pinch. The derived pinch velocity leads to a radial gradient of the toroidal velocity profile even in the absence of a torque on the plasma and is predicted to generate a peaking of the toroidal velocity profile similar to the peaking of the density profile. Finally, the pinch also affects the interpretation of current experiments.     

Observation of helicity-induced Alfvén eigenmodes in large-helical-device plasmas heated by neutral-beam injection

The helicity-induced Alfvén eigenmodes (HAEs) with the toroidal mode number n=2 and 3 are observed for the first time in the Large Helical Device plasmas heated by neutral beam injection. The observed mode frequency is about 8 times higher than that of the observed toroidicity-induced Alfvén eigenmodes, and is proportional to the Alfvén velocity. The modes are excited when the ratio of the beam velocity to the Alfvén velocity exceeds about unity. The frequency lies just above the lower bound of the HAE gap in the plasma edge region of rho>0.7 (rho: normalized minor radius).     

Observation of peak neoclassical toroidal viscous force in the DIII-D tokamak

Observation of a theoretically predicted peak in the neoclassical toroidal viscosity (NTV) force as a function of toroidal plasma rotation rate Ω is reported. The NTV was generated by applying n=3 magnetic fields from internal coils to low Ω plasmas produced with nearly balanced neutral beam injection. Locally, the peak corresponds to a toroidal rotation rate Ω(0) where the radial electric field E(r) is near zero as determined by radial ion force balance.