Role of poloidal E × B drift in divertor heat transport in DIII-D

Simulations for DIII-D high confinement mode plasmas with the multifluid code UEDGE show a strong role of poloidal E × B drifts on divertor heat transport, challenging the paradigm of conduction-limited scrape-off layer (SOL) transport. While simulations with reduced drift magnitude are well aligned with the assumption that electron heat conduction dominates the SOL heat transport, simulations with drifts predict that the poloidal convective E × B heat transport dominates over electron heat conduction in both attached and detached conditions. As poloidal E × B flow propagates across magnetic field lines, poloidal transport with shallow magnetic pitch angles can reach values that are of the same order as would be provided by sonic flows parallel to the field lines. These flows can lead to strong convection-dominated divertor heat transport, increasing the poloidal volume of radiative power front, consistent with previous measurements at DIII-D. Due to these convective flows, the Lengyel integral approach, assuming zero convective fraction, is expected to provide a pessimistic estimate for the radiative capability of impurities in the divertor. For the DIII-D simulations shown here, the Lengyel integral approach underestimates the radiated power by a factor of 6, indicating that, for reliable DIII-D divertor power exhaust predictions, full two-dimensional (2D) calculations, including drifts, would be necessary.     

The meridional circulation of the Sun: Observations,theory and connections with the solar dynamo

The meridional circulation of the Sun, which is observed to be poleward at the surface, should have a return flow at some depth. Since large-scale flows like the differential rotation and the meridional circulation are driven by turbulent stresses in the convection zone, these flows are expected to remain confined within this zone. Current observational(based on helioseismology)and theoretical(based on dynamo theory) evidences point towards an equatorward return flow of the meridional circulation at the bottom of the convection zone. Assuming the mean values of various quantities averaged over turbulence to be axisymmetric,we study the large-scale flows in solar-like stars on the basis of a 2D mean field theory. Turbulent stresses in a rotating star can transport angular momentum, setting up a differential rotation. The meridional circulation arises from a slight imbalance between two terms which try to drive it in opposite directions: a thermal wind term(arising out of the higher efficiency of convective heat transport in the polar regions) and a centrifugal term(arising out of the differential rotation). To make these terms comparable,the poles of the Sun should be slightly hotter than the equator. We discuss the important role played by the meridional circulation in the flux transport dynamo model. The poloidal field generated by the Babcock-Leighton process at the surface is advected poleward, whereas the toroidal field produced at the bottom of the convection zone is advected equatorward. The fluctuations in the meridional circulation(with coherence time of about 30-40 yr) help in explaining many aspects of the irregularities in the solar cycle. Finally, we discuss how the Lorentz force of the dynamo-generated magnetic field can cause periodic variations in the large-scale flows with the solar cycle.     

Signature of turbulent zonal flows observed in the DIII-D tokamak

The spectrum of turbulent density fluctuations at long poloidal wavelengths in the edge plasma of the DIII-D tokamak peaks at nonzero radial wave number. The associated electric-potential fluctuations cause sheared E x B flows primarily in the poloidal direction. These zonal flows have been predicted by theory and are believed to regulate the overall level of turbulence and anomalous transport. This study provides the first indirect experimental identification of zonal flows.     

Investigation on the drives of the poloidal flow in the ohmic and biased electrode experiments

The experimental investigation on the drives of the poloidal flow in KT-5 D tokamak are presented. It is found that the poloidal flow is the main contributor to the radial electric field, and the Reynolds stress can drive significant poloidal flows in ohmic discharges. The investigation on the relationship between the radial gradient of Reynolds stress and the poloidal flow in biasing discharges indicates that not only Reynolds stress but also the Lorentz's force can drive the poloidal flow.     

Detection of zero-mean-frequency zonal flows in the core of a high-temperature tokamak plasma

A low-frequency, spectrally broad (Deltaf approximately 10 kHz) poloidal flow structure that peaks near zero frequency is observed in time-resolved measurements of the turbulence velocity field in the core region (r/a approximately 0.6-0.9) of DIII-D tokamak plasmas. These flows exhibit a long poloidal wavelength (low m) and a short radial coherence length comparable to the ambient turbulence decorrelation length. Characteristics of these observed poloidal flows are consistent with the theoretically predicted residual or zero-mean-frequency zonal flows.     

The possible role of Reynolds stress in the creation of a transport barrier in tokamak edge plasmas

To obtain a good confinement, mandatory in a fusion reactor, the understanding of the formation of transport barriers in the edge plasma of a tokamak is essential. Turbulence, the major candidate to explain anomalous transport, can be quenched by sheared flows in the edge which rip the convective cells apart, thus forming a barrier. Experimental evidence from the Chinese HT-6M tokamak [Y.H. Xu et al.: Phys. Rev. Lett. 84 (2000) 3867], points to the fact that momentum transfer from the turbulence can create these sheared flows via the Reynolds stresses. A new 1-D fluid model for the generation of the poloidal flow, has been developed taking into account the driving force of the Reynolds stress and the friction forces due to neutrals and parallel viscosity. Special attention has been dedicated to the computation of the flux-surface-averaging for the various terms. This model has been confronted with the experimental results obtained in the HT-6M tokamak, where Reynolds stresses were generated by application of a turbulent heating pulse. If the model is applied in cylindrical geometry, the calculated Reynolds stress-induced flow agrees well with the measured poloidal velocity in the plasma edge. However, when the full toroidal geometry is taken into account, it seems that the Reynolds stresses are too small to explain the observed rotation. This indicates that the role of the Reynolds stresses in inducing macroscopic flow in the torus is weakened. A combined system of probes allowing to measure the Reynolds stress and the rotation velocity simultaneously, has been developed and installed on the CASTOR tokamak (Prague). We report here on the first results obtained.Presented at the Workshop Electric Fields Structures and Relaxation in Edge Plasmas, Nice, France, October 26–27, 2004.     

Effect of the momentum dependence of nuclear symmetry potential on the transverse and elliptic flows

In the framework of the isospin-dependent Boltzmann-Uehling-Uhlenbeck transport model, the effect of the momentum dependence of nuclear symmetry potential on nuclear transverse and elliptic flows in the neutron-rich reaction ¹³²Sn+¹²⁴Sn at a beam energy of 400MeV/nucleon is studied. We find that the momentum dependence of nuclear symmetry potential affects the rapidity distribution of the free neutron to proton ratio, the neutron and the proton transverse flows as a function of rapidity. The momentum dependence of nuclear symmetry potential affects the neutron-proton differential transverse flow more evidently than the difference of neutron and proton transverse flows as well as the difference of proton and neutron elliptic flows. It is thus better to probe the symmetry energy by using the difference of neutron and proton flows since the momentum dependence of nuclear symmetry potential is still an open question. And it is better to probe the momentum dependence of nuclear symmetry potential by using the neutron-proton differential transverse flow the rapidity distribution of the free neutron to proton ratio.     

Stability and angular-momentum transport of fluid flows between corotating cylinders

Turbulent transport of angular momentum is a necessary process to explain accretion in astrophysical disks. Although the hydrodynamic stability of disklike flows has been tested in experiments, results are contradictory and suggest either laminar or turbulent flow. Direct numerical simulations reported here show that currently investigated laboratory flows are hydrodynamically unstable and become turbulent at low Reynolds numbers. The underlying instabilities stem from the axial boundary conditions, affect the flow globally, and enhance angular-momentum transport.     

Nonlinear generation of zonal flows by ion-acoustic waves in a uniform magnetoplasma

It is shown that large-scale zonal flows (ZFs) can be excited by Reynolds stress of nonlinearly interacting random phase ion-acoustic waves (EIAWs) in a uniform magnetoplasma. Since ZFs are associated with poloidal sheared flows, they can tear apart short scale EIAW turbulence eddies, and hence contribute to the reduction of the cross-field turbulent transport in a magnetized plasma.     

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用中平面往复快速扫描6探针组观测HL-2A装置边缘等离子体的扰动特性。在一次放电中能测量到边缘等离子体参数的时空分布及其涨落量，雷诺胁强与极向流和带状流的关系，以及静电涨落驱动的粒子通量和热通量的径向变化。在多发弹丸注入(MPI)和多脉冲超声分子束注入(SMBI)条件下，研究了边缘参数的涨落和相关特性。实验结果表明：SMBI和MPI等注入手段改变了边缘的扰动特性；雷诺胁强的径向梯度可以驱动带状流，抑制湍流输运。     

Effect of subsonic toroidal flows on plasma poloidal rotation and ion heat conductivity. In collisional plasmas of elongated tokamaks

The ion poloidal rotation and heat conductivity in collisional plasmas of axially-symmetric tokamaks with elongated cross-sections and with subsonic toroidal plasma flows are considered. It is shown that subsonic toroidal plasma flows, induced by neutral beam injection or radio frequency waves, can strongly affect the poloidal plasma velocity and ion heat conductivity in collisional plasmas of tokamaks. The transport coefficients also depend on the tokamak ellipticity parameter which, in combination with the Mach number, allows to operate transport processes at smaller values of the toroidal Mach number. The importance of taking into account the ion-electron heat exchange and electron temperature toroidal perturbations to find ion temperature toroidal perturbations is demonstrated. This work was partially supported by the State University of Rio de Janeiro (UERJ) and the Rio de Janeiro Research Foundation (FAPERJ).     

Transport reduction by rotation shear in tokamak-edge turbulence

Effects of externally imposed and self-generated poloidal flows on turbulent transport in the edge region of a tokamak are investigated using 3D nonlinear global simulations of resistive pressure-gradient-driven turbulence. Transport reduction is found to be due to synergetic changes in the fluctuation amplitude and in the dephasing of the fluctuations. A scaling of the fluctuation level and turbulent diffusivity with E x B flow shear strength is deduced from these simulations. These scalings agree with recent experimental observations on edge biasing as well as with analytical models.     

Consistent theory of turbulent transport in two-dimensional magnetohydrodynamics

A theory of turbulent transport is presented in two-dimensional magnetohydrodynamics with background shear and magnetic fields. We provide theoretical predictions for the transport of magnetic flux, momentum, and particles and turbulent intensities, which show stronger reduction compared with the hydrodynamic case, with different dependences on shearing rate, magnetic field, and values of viscosity, Ohmic diffusion, and particle diffusivity. In particular, particle transport is more severely suppressed than momentum transport, effectively leading to a more efficient momentum transport. The role of magnetic fields in quenching transport without altering the amplitude of flow velocity and in inhibiting the generation of shear flows is elucidated. Implications of the results are discussed.     

Direct measurement of poloidal long-wavelength E x B flows in the HT-7 tokamak

The poloidal long-wavelength E x B time-varying flows were directly measured using a forked Langmuir probe in the HT-7 tokamak. Low-frequency (<10 kHz) E x B flows were observed at the plasma edge, which possess many of the characteristics of zonal flows, including a poloidal long-wavelength (k(theta)rho(i) approximately 0) and narrow radial extent (k(r)rho(i) approximately 0.1). The cross bicoherence of turbulent Reynolds stress indicates the existence of nonlinear three-wave coupling processes and the generation of low-frequency E x B flows. The estimated flow-shearing rate is of the same order of magnitude as the turbulence decorrelation rate and may thus regulate the fluctuation level and thereby the turbulence-driven transport.     

实验物理与工业控制系统平台在HL-2A主机测控系统中的应用

描述了利用实验物理与工业控制系统(EPICS)平台对HL-2A主机运行参数进行的集中测控系统开发。系统采用s7nodave设备驱动模块,实现了SoftIOC与各PLC的通讯,将各子系统的PLC集成到了EPICS控制系统中。通过对关系型数据库和应用层软件CSS中数据归档及报警等组件的扩展与配置,实现OPI层与各个子系统的实时通信。测控系统成功地将HL-2A主机参数集中在EPICS平台下运行,为下一代装置的主机集中测控系统设计打下了基础。     

HL-2A等离子体边缘极向剩余胁强的研究

首次报导了托卡马克等离子体边缘与湍流相关的极向剩余胁强剖面的测量结果。采用外中平面往复式静电探针阵列对HL-2A托卡马克边缘的极向湍流动量输运进行研究。在没有外部动量注入的欧姆放电下,剩余胁强为有限值、且其空间剖面在等离子体边缘具有明显的径向梯度,表明托卡马克等离子体边缘存在极向动量源。由动量源产生的动量主要以扩散形式向与剩余胁强相反的方向传播,最终的结果是等离子体边缘存在有限的雷诺胁强。在最后闭合磁面以内0.5~2cm区域,剩余胁强的梯度提供自发旋转的力矩,由该力矩引起的动量产生与由速度梯度引起的动量扩散共同导致了雷诺胁强出现负梯度,造成动量沉积,从而驱动极向平衡流。     

湍流雷诺协强及密度扰动对极向动量输运影响的实验研究

利用静电探针阵列对HL-2A边缘等离子体径向和极向速度进行了测量,获得了最后闭合磁面附近湍流的雷诺协强 以及 和 间相位差的剖面。实验表明,虽然 、 的幅值对雷诺协强的大小会有影响,但雷诺协强的变化趋势主要取决于二者相位差的变化;另一方面,欧姆放电以及不同电子回旋加热功率L模放电条件下的实验结果显示,密度扰动引起的粒子输运所带来的极向动量输运的贡献与雷诺协强项对极向动量输运的贡献是可比的。这表明在分析湍流引起的动量输运时必须考虑粒子输运的贡献。     

Measurements of Reynolds stress and turbulence in the boundary plasma of the HT-7 tokamak

Measurements of electric field fluctuations, Reynolds stress and poloidal flow have been performed in the boundary region of the HT-7 tokamak using a Langmuir probe array.Sheared radial electric field and poloidal flow have been found in the vicinity of the limiter and the turbulence has been clearly modified in this region. Furthermore,the electrostatic Reynolds stress component shows a radial gradient close to the velocity shear layer location.All results here indicate that the radial gradient of Reynolds stress may play an important role in the driving of poloidal flows in the plasma boundary region.     

Poloidal spin up and electric-field generation related to displacement current and neoclassical transport

Summary In accordance with the conventional orderings of neoclassical theory, poloidal and toroidal accelerations with constant parallel flow can be driven by heat transport in the absence of external momentum input and with vanishing parallel viscous stress. In a transient phase in which the heat transport is the primary source of the time dependence, the torque generating the rotation is provided at third order in the adiabatic expansion by the surface-averaged (non-ambipolar) displacement current, which is also responsible for charge build-up and for the radial electric field. The heat transport equation has been solved in a narrow layer interfaced with the intensely heated plasma core through heat flux continuity, assuming neoclassical multicollisional coefficients with self-consistent suppression mechanism of anomalous transport. Starting from low temperature in the edge layer, a strong temperature gradient, a mass poloidal rotation in the ion direction and a strongly negative sheared radial electric field can be generated, in agreement with the observations, and reach a stationary state after a displacement current-dominated triggering phase (intrinsically non-ambipolar) lasting few milliseconds. Momentum input becomes important on longer time scale and is responsible for the toroidal rotation, decoupled from temperature gradient and for a further development of the radial electric field. The results show the ability of edge transport processes to adapt flexibly to a high temperature imposed on the inner side of the edge layer and support the view that the edge processes are an integral part of a more fundamental global process involving possibly an internal bifurcation of state.     

Ion larmour radius effect on rf ponderomotive forces and induced poloidal flow in tokamak plasmas

Analytical approximations are used to clarify the effect of Larmour radius on rf ponderomotive forces and on poloidal flows induced by them in tokamak plasmas. The electromagnetic force is expressed as a sum of a gradient part and of a wave momentum transfer force, which is proportional to wave dissipation. The first part, called the gradient electromagnetic stress force, is combined with fluid dynamic (Reynolds) stress force, and gyroviscosity is included into viscosity force to model finite ion Larmour radius effects in the momentum response to the rf fields in plasmas. The expressions for the relative magnitude of different forces for kinetic Alfven waves and fast waves are derived.