A CONCEPT FOR NEXT STEP ADVANCED TOKAMAK FUSION DEVICE

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On confinement characteristics of the newly developed sawtooth-free plasmas in KSTAR tokamak

Development of advanced scenarios, an important experimental goal of the Korea superconducting tokamak advanced research (KSTAR) project, has just begun. The safety factor (q) profile is a key to achieve these advanced scenarios. Particularly the hybrid scenario, one of the advanced scenarios, can be established generally with low magnetic shear (s) at the center with central q-value above unity so to avoid sawtooth instability. This q-profile was successfully produced using early divertor formation during a plasma current ramp-up phase in KSTAR. Auxiliary heating was also employed during the current ramp-up phase to delay the inductive current diffusion to the center of the plasma. In addition to the early divertor formation method, the target q-profile was attempted to be achieved by modifying the plasma current waveform using the so-called, ‘current-overshoot’ method and the timing of L-mode to H-mode transition. In this work, the confinement characteristics of these sawtooth-free regimes are investigated. The global energy confinement time is calculated and compared with that of conventional H-modes in KSTAR. The confinement enhancement factor reveals that the newly developed discharges are not improved over H-modes contrary to results of other tokamaks. To investigate the reason, transport modeling is performed self-consistently with an integrated simulation package incorporating plasma equilibrium, transport, and heating and current drive. The current ramp-up phase is simulated and impact of early divertor formation, current-overshoot, and early L–H transition on the target q-profile and s/q profile is addressed. The s/q profile is found to be not improved in these discharges compared with hybrid scenarios reported in other tokamaks. Based on these results, future experimental directions are addressed to access the hybrid regimes in KSTAR.     

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.     

On an Unconventional Approach to the Improvement of Plasma Confinement in Tokamaks

JETP Letters - A conceptual proposal has been suggested to improve the confinement of a turbulent plasma in tokamaks with the use of discharges with large safety factors qL at the plasma...     

The Role of Radial Electric Fields in the Tokamaks TEXTOR-94, CASTOR, and T-10

Radial electric fields (E _r) and their role in the establishment of edge transport barriers and improved confinement have been studied in the tokamaks TEXTOR-94 and CASTOR, where E _r is externally applied to the plasma in a controlled way using a biased electrode, as well as in the tokamak T-10 where an edge transport barrier (H-mode) is obtained during electron-cyclotron resonance heating (ECRH) of the plasma.The physics of radial currents was studied and the radial conductivity in the edge of TEXTOR-94 (R = 1.75 m, a = 0.46 m) was found to be dominated by recycling (ion-neutral collisions) at the last closed flux surface (LCFS) and by parallel viscosity inside the LCFS. From a performance point of view (edge engineering), such electrode biasing was shown to induce a particle transport barrier, a reduction of particle transport, and a concomitant increase in energy confinement. An H-mode-like behaviour can be induced both with positive and negative electric fields. Positive as well as negative electric fields were shown to strongly affect the exhaust of hydrogen, helium, and impurities, not only in the H-mode-like regime.The impact of sheared radial electric fields on turbulent structures and flows at the plasma edge is investigated on the CASTOR tokamak (R = 0.4 m, a = 0.085 m). A non-intrusive biasing scheme that we call "separatrix biasing" is applied whereby the electrode is located in the scrape-off layer (SOL) with its tip just touching the LCFS. There is evidence of strongly sheared radial electric field and E×B flow, resulting in the formation of a transport barrier at the separatrix. Advanced probe diagnosis of the edge region has shown that the E×B shear rate that arises during separatrix biasing is larger than for standard edge plasma biasing. The plasma flows, especially the poloidal E×B drift velocity, are strongly modified in the sheared region, reaching Mach numbers as high as half the sound speed. The corresponding shear rates ( 5×10⁶ s^-1) derived from both the flow and electric field profiles are in excellent agreement and are at least an order of magnitude higher than the growth rate of unstable turbulent modes as estimated from fluctuation measurements.During ECRH in the tokamak T-10 (R = 1.5 m, a = 0.3 m), a regime of improved confinement is obtained with features resembling those in the H-mode in other tokamaks. Using a heavy ion beam probe, a narrow potential well is observed near the limiter together with the typical features of the L-H transition. The time evolution of the plasma profiles during L-H and H-L transitions is clearly correlated with that of the density profile and the formation of a transport barrier near the limiter. The edge electric field is initially positive after the onset of ECRH. It changes its sign during the L-H transition and grows till a steady condition is reached. Similar to the biasing experiments in TEXTOR-94 and CASTOR, the experimentally observed transport barrier is a barrier for particles.     

Edge operational regimes in tokamaks

Edge operational regimes in tokamaks are described using mostly experimental results of ASDEX Upgrade. Emphasis is put on high confinement mode (H-mode) at medium and high densities up to the density limit. Implications for the physics of H-mode and the density limit are discussed.     

Suppression of large edge-localized modes in high-confinement DIII-D plasmas with a stochastic magnetic boundary

A stochastic magnetic boundary, produced by an applied edge resonant magnetic perturbation, is used to suppress most large edge-localized modes (ELMs) in high confinement (H-mode) plasmas. The resulting H mode displays rapid, small oscillations with a bursty character modulated by a coherent 130 Hz envelope. The H mode transport barrier and core confinement are unaffected by the stochastic boundary, despite a threefold drop in the toroidal rotation. These results demonstrate that stochastic boundaries are compatible with H modes and may be attractive for ELM control in next-step fusion tokamaks.     

Neoclassical tearing physics in the spherical tokamak MAST

Results from MAST provide a first test of neoclassical tearing mode physics in the spherical tokamak (ST). The mode accounts for the main performance limit in conventional tokamaks. Its behavior in the ST is remarkably well described by existing theoretical models, although it is more readily seeded by sawtooth events in these scenarios. Modeling confirms the significance of stabilizing field-curvature effects. This provides good grounds for optimism that with suitable control of profiles, it may be possible to avoid these modes in the ST.     

HL—1装置偏压电极类H模能量约束时间研究

能量约束时间是衡量环流器等离子体约束性能的重要参数。分析表明，在加偏压电Ｌ模过渡到类Ｈ模的过程中，如果等离子体的辐射损失功率与总损失功率之比显著变化，则扣除辐射损失的能量约束时间的增量是一种更好的衡量约束得到改善的尺度。在这种考虑之下，我们讨论ＨＬ－１等离子体偏压电极Ｌ模－类Ｈ模过的能量约束及电子热传导特性。     

Direct modulation and optical confinement factor modulation of semiconductor lasers

Abstract

A method for modulation of semiconductor lasers is demonstrated. The method is based on the modulation of the optical confinement factor. Using this method an enhanced—3-dB bandwidth is observed in agreement with the small signal rate equation analysis. A modulation response that drops at high frequencies slower than the conventional direct current modulation response is achieved. This supports the theoretical predictions, showing an intrinsic 1/f decay rate for the optical confinement factor modulation scheme versus an intrinsic 1/f² decay for direct modulation.     

Nanocrystals of cdte formed by the pressure cycle method

Recently, it has been shown that CdTe has two sucessive phase transitions over a narrow pressure range at ?3.5 GPa. In this work, the pressure cycle method using a Paris-Edinburgh cell up to 6 GPa has been applied to CdTe samples in order to obtain recovered CdTe nanocrystals which were characterized by high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), electron diffraction and Raman scattering. Such retrieved nanocrystals are nearly spherical, with diameters ranging from 10 to 30 nm, and their structure is zinc-blende (ZB). Their Raman spectra is consistent with the CdTe phonon dispersion curves but reveal a phonon confinement effect.     

Confinement effects on the spin potential of first row transition metal cations

Abstract

By using a spherical confinement method, the behaviour of spin potential and pairing energy is studied and compared to the free ion limit for a representative sample of first row transition metal cations. The study was carried out using three approximations within the Kohn–Sham model; exchange-only, exchange plus correlation contribution and correcting the self-interaction error. For the three approaches, the spin potential shows a close connection with the capability of a system to perform a spin-flip process. Namely, in accordance with Hund’s rule, the spin potential increases from low d occupation up to maximum for the half filled configurations; and it decreases from that point on, as d occupation grows. Such a conclusion is reached for confined and non-confined cations, even under extreme confinement conditions. In addition, two important observations are obtained: (a) In contrast to the neutral atoms situation, in the case of cations no eigenvalue crossings are observed under confinement conditions for the whole sample of ions tested. (b) The self-interaction error found in many exchange–correlation functionals does not affect the pairing energy over confined atoms, even when this error has an important contribution on a single eigenvalue. Therefore, pairing energy predicted by exchange–correlation functionals non-corrected by the self-interaction error can be made safely on transition metal cations under high pressures.     

Operation of a tokamak reactor in the radiative improved mode

The operation of a nuclear fusion reactor has been simulated within a model based on experimental results obtained at the TEXTOR-94 tokamak and other facilities in which quasistationary regimes were achieved with long confinement times, high densities, and absence of the edge-localized mode. The radiative improved mode of confinement studied in detail at the TEXTOR-94 tokamak is the most interesting such regime. One of the most important problems of modern tokamaks is the problem of a very high thermal load on a divertor (or a limiter). This problem is quite easily solved in the radiative improved mode. Since a significant fraction of the thermal energy is reemitted by an impurity, the thermal loading is significantly reduced. As the energy confinement time τ_E at high densities in the indicated mode is significantly larger than the time predicted by the scaling of ITERH-98P(y, 2), ignition can be achieved in a facility much smaller than the ITER facility at plasma temperatures below 20 keV. The revealed decrease in the degradation of the confinement time τ_E with an increase in the introduced power has been analyzed.     

Impurity-related optical response in a 2D and 3D quantum dot with Gaussian confinement under intense laser field

ABSTRACT

Using the two-dimensional (2D) diagonalisation method, the impurity-related electronic states and optical response in a 2D quantum dot with Gaussian confinement potential under nonresonant intense laser field are investigated. The effects of a hydrogenic impurity on the energy spectrum and binding energy of the electron and also intersubband optical absorption are calculated. The obtained numerical results show that the degeneracies of the excited electron states are broken and the absorption spectrum exhibits a redshift with the values of the laser field. The findings indicate a new degree of freedom to tune the performance of novel optoelectronic devices, based on the quantum dots and to control their specific properties by means of intense laser field and hydrogenic donor impurity. Using the same Gaussian confinement model, the electronic properties of a confined electron in the region of a spherical quantum dot are studied under the combined effects of on-centre donor impurity and a linearly polarised intense laser radiation. The three-dimensional problem is used to theoretically model, with very good agreement, some experimental findings reported in the literature related to the photoluminescence peak energy transition.     

Some perspectives on the use of powerful gyrotrons for the electron-cyclotron plasma heating in large tokamaks

Conclusion The main problems for the further development of high efficiency powerful gyrotrons are obviously the elaboration of electron guns with a large current density and the ensuring of a stable single-mode operation in resonators with a large cross-section. For the increase in microwave pulse energy (with a pulse length of the order of the time of plasma confinement in large tokamaks) the investigation of the possibilities to diminish heating loads in the resonator and output window of a gyrotron is necessary.     

Ignition curves for deuterium/helium-3 fuel in spherical tokamak reactor

In this paper, ignition curve for deuterium /helium-3 fusion reaction is studied. Four fusion reactions are considered. Zero-dimensional model for the power balance equation has been used. The closed ignition curves for ρ=constant (ratio of particle to energy confinement time) have been derived. The results of our calculations show that ignited equilibria for deuterium /helium-3 fuel in a spherical tokamak is only possible for ρ= 5.5 and 6. Then, by using the energy confinement scaling and parameters of the spherical tokamak reactor, the plasma stability limits have been obtained in n_e, T plane and, to determine the thermal instability of plasma, the time-dependent transport equations have been solved.     

Theory of Raman light scattering by nanocrystal acoustic vibrations

A theory of Raman scattering of light by acoustic phonons in spherical nanocrystals of zinc-blende and wurtzite semiconductors has been developed with the inclusion of the complex structure of the valence band. The deformation-potential approximation was used to describe the exciton-phonon interaction. It is shown that this approximation allows only Raman scattering processes involving spheroidal acoustic phonons with a total angular momentum F=0 or 2. The effect of phonon quantum confinement on linewidth in Raman scattering spectra and scattered polarization is analyzed. An expression for the shape of the spectral line corresponding to nonresonant scattering from F=0 phonons was obtained. Fiz. Tverd. Tela (St. Petersburg) 41, 1473–1483 (August 1999)     

Generic structure of externally driven tearing modes instabilities

A major limit to steady state and advanced high operation of tokamaks of reactor class is due to the onset of tearing modes that develop magnetic and may cause loss of energy confinement or a major disruption. Here the structure of a classical problem about the effects of external control helical fields is analysed and it is shown to offer a general paradigm of response of low order classical and neoclassical tearing modes to a wide class of external perturbations. New results of principle on the structural stability of the response model are obtained, leading to a clear interpretation of the role of “seed islands" in the onset of neo-classical tearing modes and the role of finite ion larmor radius corrections to Ohm's law. Received 12 November 2001 and Received in final form 4 January 2002     

Double donor in a spherical quantum dot

We present a variational calculation for the ground state of the double donor in a spherical GaAs–Ga_1–x Al _x As quantum dot. The binding energies for the ionized and neutral centres are calculated for several barrier height values as a function of the radius of the dot. Compared with a square well structure, there is a stronger confinement and a larger binding energy for the double donors in a spherical quantum dot.     

Quantum-mechanical confinement with the robin condition

The energy spectrum of a nonrelativistic quantum particle in the confinement state in a closed spatial volume at general boundary confinement conditions (the Robin conditions) is investigated. It is shown that the properties of such a state are substantially more nontrivial compared with particle confinement using the potential barrier. It is also shown for a hydrogen-like atom arranged in a spherical cavity with radius R that if the surface layer with nonzero depth d plays the role of the boundary of the confinement region, all the energy levels of a discrete spectrum of the atom have a finite limit at R → 0, while the R-dependence of the lower layer at physically substantial parameters of the surface layer contains a deep well-pronounced minimum, in which the binding energy is considerably higher than for the lower 1s level of a free atom.