Tomography analysis of the sawtooth crash with post-cursor in LHCD plasma on HT-7 tokamak

Sawtooth oscillations with post-cursor were observed in LHCD plasma on HT-7 tokamak. The mode exists and decays gradually after the crash, which implies that the magnetic reconnection is incomplete and the central safety factor remains below unity after the crash. From results of the singular value decomposition (SVD) and tomographic reconstructions describing the magnetic surface structures in the crash, it was found that the m/n=1/1 mode survives in the crash. It is shown that, the appearance of the preservation of this mode is inconsistent with the secondary reconnection theory, and we conjecture that the evolving of this mode may be understood with the stochastic field model.     

Improved lower hybrid current drive efficiency with IBW heating in the HT-7 tokamak

Lower hybrid current drive (LHCD) efficiency in the HT-7 tokamak is observed to increase about 30% with ion Bernstein wave (IBW) heating. The current drive efficiency as high as has been reached in HT-7 thanks to an LHCD/IBW synergy. The IBWs are significantly coupled to the fast electrons produced by the lower hybrid waves, thus results in higher fast electron photon temperature in the combined LHCD + IBW scenario. The interaction of LHCD + IBW improved current drive efficiency.     

Hot electrical conductivity in lower hybrid current drive plasmas in the HT-7 tokamak

The interaction between the hot electrical conductivity and the residual electric field have been investigated in lower hybrid current drive (LHCD) experiments with non-zero loop voltage in the HT-7 tokamak. It has been found that the hot electrical conductivity contribute significantly to the current drive in partial non-inductively sustained plasmas. The hot electrical conductivities under different lower hybrid power levels and different parallel refractive indexes have been obtained. It is comparable to the Spitzer conductivity in high power LHCD experiments.     

Statistical properties of turbulence in a toroidal magnetized ECR plasma

The statistical analyses of fluctuation data measured by electrostatic-probe arrays clearly show that the self-organized criticality (SOC) avalanches are not the dominant behaviors in a toroidal ECR plasma in the SMT (Simple Magnetic Torus) mode of KT-5D device. The f⁻¹ index region in the auto-correlation spectra of the floating potential Vf and the ion saturation current Is, which is a fingerprint of a SOC system, ranges only in a narrow frequency band. By investigating the Hurst exponents at increasingly coarse grained time series, we find that at a time scale of τ>100 μs, there exists no or a very weak long-range correlation over two decades in τ. The difference between the PDFs of Is and Vf clearly shows a more global nature of the latter. The transport flux induced by the turbulence suggests that the natural intermittency of turbulent transport maybe independent of the avalanche induced by near criticality. The drift instability is dominant in a SMT plasma generated by means of ECR discharges.     

Runaway Electron Beam Instability in Slide-Away Discharges in the HT-7 Tokamak

Slide-away discharges are achieved by decreasing the plasma density or ramping down the plasma current in runaway discharges in the HT-7 tokamak. In the case of plasma current ramp down, the ratio of the electron plasma frequency to the electron cyclotron frequency is higher than in the stationary pulses when the discharge goes into a slide-away regime. The instability regime is characterized by relaxations in the electron cyclotron emission due to relativistic anomalous Doppler effect which transfers energy from parallel to perpendicular motion. The triggering of relativistic anomalous Doppler effect at higher density by ramping down of plasma current may provide a alternative runaway energy control scenario.     

Multifaceted asymmetric radiation from the edge along improved confinement mode in LHCD plasmas with graphite limiters on HT-7 tokamak

Multifaceted asymmetric radiation from the edge (MARFE) phenomena during lower hybrid current drive (LHCD) Experiments on the HT-7 superconducting tokamak are summarized in this paper. The best correlation has been found between the total input (ohmic + LHCD) power and the product of the edge line average density and Z _eff. Studies show that the critical density of MARFE onset is observed in the region of Z _eff ^1/2f_GW = 0.6-0.9, where , (here is the maximum line average electron density and n_GW is the Greenwald density). These MARFEs generally appear to have the same characteristics as high f_GW MARFEs and are positionally stable throughout the LHCD pulse. Improved confinement mode induced by a MARFE is observed, and it is maintained for about 65 ms. MARFE cools the plasma edge, and the electron density profile is observed to become more narrow and peaked.     

Density Modulation Experiments on HT-7 Tokamak

Density modulation experiments are successfully conducted on HT-7 ohmic discharge to investigate particle transport coefficients: diffusion coefficients D and convection velocity V. The particle transport is studied at low (1.5×10¹⁹m^-3) and high (3×10¹⁹ m^-3) density regimes. The clear differences are observed that D is 0.42m²/s and 0.17m²/s, V is 4.7m/s (outward) and 1.6 m/s (inward) for low and high density plasmas respectively, where spatially constant D and V(r) = (r/a)V₀ were assumed for the analysis.     

The combined toroidicity,ellipticity and triangularity effects on the energy deposition of Alfvén modes in pre-heated,low aspect ratio tokamaks

The combined plasma non-uniformity effects on the energy deposition of Alfvén waves launched by an external antenna in pre-heated spherical tokamaks are investigated. The following relevant physical processes are here possible: (a) the emergence of gaps in the shear Alfvén continuum spectrum and the generation of discrete global Alfvén eigenmodes with frequencies inside the gaps; (b) multi-wave interactions, interactions of gaps of the same kind (e.g., toroidicity induced) and of different kinds (toroidicity, ellipticity and triangularity induced) as well as of secondary order gaps arising when a pair of modes is coupled to one or more modes through other coupling parameters; (c) basic wave-plasma interactions as propagation, reflection, mode-conversion, tunneling and deposition. Thus, we solved numerically the full 2D wave equations for the vector and scalar potentials, using a quite general two-fluid resistive tensor-operator, without any geometrical limitations. The results obtained indicate the existence of antenna-launched wave characteristics for which the power is most efficiently coupled in outer regions of plasmas, which is of special interest for low aspect ratio tokamaks, e.g., for the generation of non-inductive current drive as well as for turbulence suppression and transport barriers formation.     

Impact of fast vertical and radial plasma movement on type-I ELMs in ASDEX upgrade

For the ITER project it is clear that steps have to be taken in order to avoid or mitigate type-I ELMs when operating in the standard H-mode scenario. Otherwise, divertor power loads induced by intrinsic ELMs will result in an intolerably short divertor life time. Amongst others, “magnetic triggering” based on a fast vertical movement of the plasma column has proven its ability to achieve ELM frequency control and hence mitigation by locking the ELM frequency to the imposed motion. Here, we report on an attempt to widen this approach by applying a cyclic radial plasma shift. Although motional cycle amplitudes sufficient for ELM frequency locking were achieved even easier than in the vertical case, no ELM control was established for the radial case. Analysis of this different behaviour can allow for better insight into underlying ELM release mechanisms and might potentially be a useful tool for mapping out ELM stability boundaries. Presented at the Workshop “Electric Fields, Structures and Relaxation in Edge Plasmas”, Roma, Italy, June 26–27, 2006.     

Density Fluctuation Measurements Using FIR Interferometer on HL-2A Tokamak

Density fluctuations were first measured in the core region of HL-2A tokamak plasma using a newly developed multi-channel FIR interferometer system. In divertor ohmic discharges, we measured the radial density fluctuation levels of 5%, which increase to 10-20% during the appearance of MHD activity. Most of the power density in the density fluctuation spectrum is directly associated with m = 2 tearing modes. The fluctuation levels reduce to 1/3 and plasma confinement is improved during off-axis electron-cyclotron-resonance heating （ECRH）.     

Multiple polarization of geodesic curvature induced modes

Dispersion relations for geodesic acoustic modes are derived by using the Grad hydrodynamic equations thereby reconciling long known but not previously explained discrepancy between the results of kinetic and fluid calculations. Extended fluid theory allows a simple analysis of mode polarization and coupling. A new type of electromagnetic modes induced by geodesic compressibility is predicted. These modes are related to Alfvén and geodesic acoustic modes. While a standard geodesic acoustic mode involves poloidally and toroidally symmetric perturbations of electrostatic potential (m=n=0) and the first poloidal side-bands of plasma pressure, new modes involve side-bands of the electrostatic and vector potential as well as pressure perturbations at zeroth and second harmonics. It is shown that there exist two different values of the adiabatic constant depending on the mode polarization. Both standard (electrostatic) geodesic acoustic modes and new electromagnetic modes involve finite perturbations of parallel viscosity, which modify an effective adiabatic (compressibility) index for a toroidal plasma.     

Diagnostics for first plasma study on EAST tokamak

The first plasma was obtained in the EAST on September 26th, 2006. Single-null (SN) and double-null (DN) diverted plasmas were achieved successfully in the EAST tokamak on January 22nd, 2007. The employed plasma diagnostics for first plasma study of EAST are as follows: a vertical one-channel far-infrared (FIR) hydrogen cyanide (HCN) laser interferometer for measuring the line average density, a 10-channel soft X-ray array for intensity measurement, a 16-channel heterodyne Electron Cyclotron Emission (ECE) for measuring the electron temperature profile, a 8-channel XUV bolometer array to measure plasma radiation losses, a 3-channel hard X-ray array for intensity measurement, an electromagnetic measurement system, a 35-channel Hα radiation array, 20 probes for divertor plasma, a one-channel visible bremsstrahlung emission, an impurity optical spectrum measurement system and two optical spectroscopic multi-channel analyzers (OMA). The first experimental results of diagnostic systems are summarized in this Letter.     

Dual equilibrium in a finite aspect ratio tokamak

A new approach to high pressure magnetically-confined plasmas is necessary to design efficient fusion devices. This Letter presents a new sort of equilibrium combining two solutions of the Grad-Shafranov equation, which describes the magnetohydrodynamic equilibrium in toroidal geometry. The outer equilibrium is paramagnetic and confines the inner equilibrium, whose strong diamagnetism permits to balance large pressure gradients. The existence of both equilibria in the same volume yields a dual equilibrium structure. This combination improves free-boundary mode stability.     

Cascade generation of zonal flows by the drift wave turbulence

The purpose of this research is to investigate the formation of zonal flows that can lead to the enhanced confinement of plasma in tokamaks. We show that zonal flows can be effectively formed by resonance triad interactions in the process of the inverse cascade. We discuss what energy sources are more effective for the formation of zonal flows.     

First Observation of Neoclassical Tearing Modes in the HL-2A Tokamak

The m/n = 2/1 neoclassical tearing modes are first observed in HL-2A low density, low beta plasma with central electron cyclotron resonance heating. The neoclassical tearing modes （NTMs） are triggered by a sawtooth crash with m/n = 1/1 precursors, which are toroidal coupled with a small scale m/n = 2/1 mode. The time history of the island width is compared with the prediction of the NTM theory, showing a good agreement between theory and experiment.     

A DC probe diagnostics for fast electron temperature measurements in tokamak edge plasmas

The tunnel probe is a new kind of Langmuir probe for use in the tokamak scrape-off layer. It provides simultaneous measurements of electron temperature and parallel ion current density with high frequency at the same point in space. We describe ongoing work to characterize the ion flows within the probe, and to calibrate the diagnostics using 2D kinetic simulations. Presented at 5th Workshop “Role of Electric Fields in Plasma Confinement and Exhaust”, Montreus, Seitzerland, June 23–24, 2002.     

Dynamics of fully nonlinear drift wave-zonal flow turbulence system in plasmas

We present numerical simulations of fully nonlinear drift wave-zonal flow (DW-ZF) turbulence systems in a nonuniform magnetoplasma. In our model, the drift wave (DW) dynamics is pseudo-three-dimensional (pseudo-3D) and accounts for self-interactions among finite amplitude DWs and their coupling to the two-dimensional (2D) large amplitude zonal flows (ZFs). The dynamics of the 2D ZFs in the presence of the Reynolds stress of the pseudo-3D DWs is governed by the driven Euler equation. Numerical simulations of the fully nonlinear coupled DW-ZF equations reveal that short scale DW turbulence leads to nonlinear saturated dipolar vortices, whereas the ZF sets in spontaneously and is dominated by a monopolar vortex structure. The ZFs are found to suppress the cross-field turbulent particle transport. The present results provide a better model for understanding the coexistence of short and large scale coherent structures, as well as associated subdued cross-field particle transport in magnetically confined fusion plasmas.     

Mechanism of neoclassical tearing modes triggering by a magnetic perturbation

A new mechanism whereby Neoclassical Tearing Modes (NTMs) can be triggered through toroidal mode coupling to a magnetic perturbation is proposed. The physical picture is the presence of a relatively small “pre-NTM” magnetic island whose frequency is modified by the perturbation, changing polarization current effects from stabilizing to destabilizing.