Fluid modeling of radio frequency and direct currents in a biased magnetized plasma

Équipe 107 : Physique des plasmas chaudsInternational audienceThis model aims at simulating a magnetized plasma column connected on one side to a probe and on the other side to an ICRH (Ion Cyclotron Resonant Heating) antenna. This is a double probe modeling of a plasma flux tube exchanging perpendicular currents: rf polarization current and dc currents (inertia, viscous, and friction) perpendicular to the magnetic field. A self consistent solution for the rectified potential and the density is obtained under the assumptions of flute hypothesis, inertialess electrons, and no collision in parallel direction. The main effect of rf biasing on the antenna side is to shift the IV characteristic so that the floating potential can be increased up to ln(I-0(eV(rf)/(k(B)T(e)))), with I-0 the modified Bessel function of the first kind. On the contrary, the effect of dc currents is to decrease the plasma potential and the sheath potential which can be lower than 3k(B)T(e)/e or even be negative. Experimental characteristics are well matched by the 1D fluid code and exhibit very high negative currents (more than 30j(i) the ion saturation current) for high positive biasing of the probe and for long flux tube (10 m). The non-saturation of the electron current is here due to high transverse transport enhanced by convective fluxes and dc currents able to bring an amount of density around the biased flux tube. During comparisons with experiments, the floating potential measured by a reciprocating probe is recovered by the code revealing that for a 120V measured peak potential on the probe, the rf potential on the ICRH antenna is twice this value. Finally, the density profile can be flattened or steepened as a function of the transverse dc current direction

A linear radio frequency plasma reactor for potential and current mapping in a magnetized plasma

Équipe 107 : Physique des plasmas chauds ; Équipe 201 : Expériences et Simulations des Plasmas Réactifs - Interaction plasma-surface et Traitement des Surfaces (ESPRITS)International audienceLangmuir probe measurements in front of high power ion cyclotron resonant frequency antennas are not possible or simply too noisy to be analyzed properly. A linear experiment is a radio frequency (RF) magnetized plasma discharge reactor designed to probe the rectified potential in front of such antennas but at low power level (1 kW) to next improve antenna design and mitigate sheath effects. The maximum magnetic field is 0.1 T, and the RF amplifier can work between 10 kHz and 250 MHz allowing ion cyclotron resonances for argon or helium. The first measurements with no magnetic field are presented here, especially 2D potential maps extracted from the RF compensated probe measurements yield ni approximate to 10(15) m(-3) and Te approximate to 2 eV for RF power lower than 100 W. Series resonances in the chamber are highlighted and allow to deduce the plasma parameters from a simple equivalent impedance model of the plasma in helium gas. Next studies will be focused on magnetized plasmas and especially magnetized RF sheaths

Measurement of sheath potential in RF-biased flux tubes using a retarding field analyzer in Tore Supra tokamak

20th International Conference on Plasma-Surface Interactions in Controlled Fusion Devices (PSI), Forschungszentrum Julich, Aachen, GERMANY, MAY 21-25, 2012International audienceThe influence of RF electric fields on retarding field analyzer (RFA) measurements of sheath potential, V-sh is investigated. One-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations show that the RFA is able to measure reliably the rectified dc sheath potential only for ion plasma frequencies omega(pi) similar to the rf wave frequency omega(rf), while for real SOL conditions (omega(pi) > omega(rf)), when the RFA is magnetically connected to an RF antenna, it is strongly underestimated. An alternative method to investigate RF sheaths effects is proposed that uses broadening of the ion distribution function as evidence of the rf electric fields in the sheath. RFA measurements in Tore Supra indicate that the average effects of rf potentials do indeed propagate from the antenna 12 m along magnetic field lines

Study of wave propagation in various kinds of plasmas using adapted simulation methods, with illustrations on possible future applications

Équipe 107 : Physique des plasmas chaudsInternational audienceThe understanding of wave propagation in turbulent magnetized plasmas can be rather complex, particularly if they are inhomogeneous and time-dependent. Simulation can be a useful tool for wave propagation studies, provided that the ``model'' equations take into account the characteristics of the medium relevant for the studied problem and that the numerical scheme including boundary conditions is stable and accurate enough. The choices for the model equations and the corresponding schemes are analyzed and discussed as a function of various parameters, such as the order of the numerical scheme and the number of grid points per wavelength. A quick review of the up-to-date numerical developments is given on the sheath boundary conditions and on the perfect matching layer in anisotropic media. Possible developments of plasma diagnostics conclude this state-of-the-art of simulations of electromagnetic waves in plasmas

Simulation as a tool to improve wave heating in fusion plasmas

Équipe 107 : Physique des plasmas chaudsInternational audienceFirstly, a brief overview will be given on different models that are able to describe the behaviour of wave propagation as a function of specific frequency ranges. Each range corresponds to different heating systems, namely, 20-100 MHz for the ion cyclotron resonant heating, 2-20 GHz for lower-hybrid heating or current drive, and 100-250 GHz for electron cyclotron resonant heating or current drive systems. The specification of every system will be explained in detail, including the typical set of equations and the assumptions needed to describe the properties of these heating or current drive systems, as well as their specific domains of validity. In these descriptions, special attention will be paid to the boundary conditions. A review of specific physical problems associated with the wave heating systems will also be provided. The review will detail the role of simulation in answering questions that arise from experiments on magnetized plasma devices devoted to fusion. A few examples that will be covered are the impact of edge turbulence on wave propagation and its consequences on heating system performance, the effects of fast particles and ponderomotive effects, among others. A study that is more focused on radio-frequency sheath effects will also be discussed. It shows that such simulations require very sophisticated tools to gain a partial understanding of the observations undertaken in dedicated experiments. To conclude this review, an overview will be given about the requirements and progress necessary to obtain relevant predictive simulation tools able to describe the wave heating systems used in fusion devices