5,539 research outputs found
Calibration of the high-frequency magnetic fluctuation diagnostic in plasma devices
The increasing reservoirs of energetic particles which drive high-frequency modes, together with advances in the understanding of magnetohydrodynamics, have led to a need for higher-frequency (50 kHz to >20MHz) measurements of magnetic field fluctuations in magnetic fusion devices such as tokamaks. This article uses transmission line equations to derive the voltage response of a Mirnov coil at the digitizer end of a transmission line of length ℓ. It is shown that, depending on the terminations of the line, resonances can occur even for ℓ/λ⪡1, with λ the wavelength of a fluctuation in the transmission line. A lumped-circuit model based on the approach of Heeter et al. [R. F. Heeter, A. F. Fasoli, S. Ali-Arshad, and J. M. Moret. Rev. Sci. Instrum.71, 4092 (2000)] is extended to enable the inclusion simultaneously of both serial resistance and parallel conductance elements. As originally proposed by Heeter et al. the lumped-circuit model offers the advantage of remote calibration; this may be of particular value when upgrading existing systems to operate at frequencies above the original design specification. It is formally shown that the transmission line equations for the transfer function and measured impedance reduce to those of the lumped circuit model of Heeter et al. under specific conditions. The result extends the use of the lumped-circuit model of Heeter et al., which can be used to extract the transfer function from measurement of the impedance, beyond the case of an open-circuit termination. Although the numerical procedure does exhibit some problems associated with non-uniqueness, it provides a simple calibration method for systems that are not well defined. Using typical parameters for a high-frequency Mirnov coil installed on the Joint European Torus (JET) tokamak, the lumped-circuit approximation agrees with the steady-state transmission line model to within 0.015° in phase and 22% in amplitude for frequencies up to 1 MHz. A matched termination, though eliminating line resonances and reducing the length of time for the system to reach steady state, is inappropriate for the JET-type coils which exhibit significant temperature-dependent resistance. Finally, for fluctuations of finite duration, a method of computing the discrepancy due to the simplifying assumption of Fourier-stationary conditions is described.This work was funded jointly by the United Kingdom
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council and by EURATOM
Evidence cross-validation and Bayesian inference of MAST plasma equilibria
In this paper, current profiles for plasma discharges on the Mega-Ampere
Spherical Tokamak (MAST) are directly calculated from pickup coil, flux loop
and Motional-Stark Effect (MSE) observations via methods based in the
statistical theory of Bayesian analysis. By representing toroidal plasma
current as a series of axisymmetric current beams with rectangular
cross-section and inferring the current for each one of these beams,
flux-surface geometry and q-profiles are subsequently calculated by elementary
application of Biot-Savart's law. The use of this plasma model in the context
of Bayesian analysis was pioneered by Svensson and Werner on the Joint-European
Tokamak (JET) [J. Svensson and A. Werner. Current tomography for axisymmetric
plasmas. Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion, 50(8):085002, 2008]. In
this framework, linear forward models are used to generate diagnostic
predictions, and the probability distribution for the currents in the
collection of plasma beams was subsequently calculated directly via application
of Bayes' formula. In this work, we introduce a new diagnostic technique to
identify and remove outlier observations associated with diagnostics falling
out of calibration or suffering from an unidentified malfunction. These
modifications enable good agreement between Bayesian inference of the last
closed flux-surface (LCFS) with other corroborating data, such as such as that
from force balance considerations using EFIT++ [L. Appel et al., Proc. 33rd EPS
Conf., Rome, Italy, 2006]. In addition, this analysis also yields errors on the
plasma current profile and flux-surface geometry, as well as directly
predicting the Shafranov shift of the plasma core.This work was jointly funded by the Australian Government
through International Science Linkages Grant No.
CG130047, the Australian National University, the United
Kingdom Engineering and Physical Sciences Research
Council under Grant No. EP/G003955, and by the European
Communities under the contract of Association between EURATOM and CCFE
Generation and detection of a sub-Poissonian atom number distribution in a one-dimensional optical lattice
We demonstrate preparation and detection of an atom number distribution in a
one-dimensional atomic lattice with the variance dB below the Poissonian
noise level. A mesoscopic ensemble containing a few thousand atoms is trapped
in the evanescent field of a nanofiber. The atom number is measured through
dual-color homodyne interferometry with a pW-power shot noise limited probe.
Strong coupling of the evanescent probe guided by the nanofiber allows for a
real-time measurement with a precision of atoms on an ensemble of some
atoms in a one-dimensional trap. The method is very well suited for
generating collective atomic entangled or spin-squeezed states via a quantum
non-demolition measurement as well as for tomography of exotic atomic states in
a one-dimensional lattice
Model Data Fusion: developing Bayesian inversion to constrain equilibrium and mode structure
Recently, a new probabilistic "data fusion" framework based on Bayesian
principles has been developed on JET and W7-AS. The Bayesian analysis framework
folds in uncertainties and inter-dependencies in the diagnostic data and signal
forward-models, together with prior knowledge of the state of the plasma, to
yield predictions of internal magnetic structure. A feature of the framework,
known as MINERVA (J. Svensson, A. Werner, Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion
50, 085022, 2008), is the inference of magnetic flux surfaces without the use
of a force balance model. We discuss results from a new project to develop
Bayesian inversion tools that aim to (1) distinguish between competing
equilibrium theories, which capture different physics, using the MAST spherical
tokamak; and (2) test the predictions of MHD theory, particularly mode
structure, using the H-1 Heliac.Comment: submitted to Journal of Plasma Fusion Research 10/11/200
Fermi-Polaron: Diagrammatic Monte Carlo for Divergent Sign-Alternating Series
Diagrammatic Monte Carlo approach is applied to a problem of a single
spin-down fermion resonantly interacting with the sea of ideal spin-up
fermions. On one hand, we develop a generic, sign-problem tolerant, method of
exact numerical solution of polaron-type models. On the other hand, our
solution is important for understanding the phase diagram and properties of the
BCS-BEC crossover in the strongly imbalanced regime. This is the first, and
possibly characteristic, example of how the Monte Carlo approach can be applied
to a divergent sign-alternating diagrammatic series.Comment: 4 pages, 7 figure
Polaron Transport in the Paramagnetic Phase of Electron-Doped Manganites
The electrical resistivity, Hall coefficient, and thermopower as functions of
temperature are reported for lightly electron-doped Ca(1-x)La(x)MnO(3)(0 <= x
<= 0.10). Unlike the case of hole-doped ferromagnetic manganites, the magnitude
and temperature dependence of the Hall mobility for these compounds is found to
be inconsistent with small-polaron theory. The transport data are better
described by the Feynman polaron theory and imply intermediate coupling (alpha
\~ 5.4) with a band effective mass, m*~4.3 m_0, and a polaron mass, m_p ~ 10
m_0.Comment: 7 pp., 7 Fig.s, to be published, PR
Reformulation of the Stochastic Potential Switching Algorithm and a Generalized Fourtuin-Kasteleyn Representation
A new formulation of the stochastic potential switching algorithm is
presented. This reformulation naturally leads us to a generalized
Fourtuin-Kasteleyn representation of the partition function Z. A formula for
internal energy E and that of heat capacity C are derived from derivatives of
the partition function. We also derive a formula for the exchange probability
in the replica exchange Monte Carlo method. By combining the formulae with the
Stochastic Cutoff method, we can greatly reduce the computational time to
perform internal energy and heat capacity measurements and the replica exchange
Monte Carlo method in long-range interacting systems. Numerical simulations in
three dimensional magnetic dipolar systems show the validity and efficiency of
the method.Comment: 11 pages, 6 figures, to appear in PR
A high resolution Mirnov array for the Mega Ampere Spherical Tokamak
Over the past two decades, the increase in neutral-beam heating and alpha particle production in magnetically confined fusion plasmas has led to an increase in energetic particle driven mode activity, much of which has an electromagnetic signature which can be detected by the use of external Mirnov coils. Typically, the frequency and spatial wave number band of such oscillations increase with increasing injection energy, offering new challenges for diagnostic design. In particular, as the frequency approaches the megahertz range, care must be taken to model the stray capacitance of the coil, which limits the resonant frequency of the probe; model transmission line effects in the system, which if unchecked can produce system resonances; and minimize coil conductive shielding, so as to minimize skin currents which limit the frequency response of the coil. As well as optimizing the frequency response, the coils should also be positioned to confidently identify oscillations over a wide wave number band. This work, which draws on new techniques in stray capacitance modeling and coil positioning, is a case study of the outboard Mirnov array for high-frequency acquisition in the Mega Ampere Spherical Tokamak, and is intended as a roadmap for the design of high frequency, weak field strength magnetic diagnostics.This work was partly funded by the Australian National
University, the United Kingdom Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, and by the European Communities
under the contract of Association between EURATOM
and CCFE
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