Benchmark of quasi-linear models against gyrokinetic single scale simulations in deuterium and tritium plasmas for a JET high beta hybrid discharge

A benchmark of the reduced quasi-linear models QuaLiKiz and TGLF with GENE gyrokinetic simulations has been performed for parameters corresponding to a JET high performance hybrid pulse in deuterium. Given the importance of the study of such advanced scenarios in view of ITER and DEMO operations, the dependence of the transport on the ion isotope mass has also been assessed, by repeating the benchmark changing the ion isotope to tritium. TGLF agrees better with GENE on the linear spectra and the flux levels. However, concerning the isotope dependence, only QuaLiKiz reproduces the GENE radial trend of a basically gyro-Bohm (gB) scaling at inner radii and instead anti-gB at outer radii. The physics effects which are responsible of the antigB effect in GENE simulations have been singled out

Signatures of non-locality in the first-order coherence of the scattered light

The spatial coherence of an atomic wavepacket can be detected in the scattered photons, even when the center-of-mass motion is in the quantum coherent superposition of two distant, non-overlapping wave packets. Spatial coherence manifests itself in the power spectrum of the emitted photons, whose spectral components can exhibit interference fringes as a function of the emission angle. The contrast and the phase of this interference pattern provide information about the quantum state of the center of mass of the scattering atom.Comment: 5 pages, one figure, submitted to Laser Physics, special issue in memory of Herbert Walthe

Key impact of finite-beta and fast ions in core and edge tokamak regions for the transition to advanced scenarios

Extensive linear and non-linear gyrokinetic simulations and linear magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) analyses performed for JET hybrid discharges with improved confinement have shown that the large population of fast ions found in the plasma core under particular heating conditions has a strong impact on core microturbulence and edge MHD by reducing core ion heat fluxes and increasing pedestal pressure in a feedback mechanism. In the case of the ITER like wall, it is shown how this mechanism plays a decisive role for the transition to plasma regimes with improved confinement and it can explain the weak power degradation obtained in dedicated power scans. The mechanism is found to be highly dependent on plasma triangularity as it changes the balance between the improvement in the plasma core and the edge. The feedback mechanism can play a similar role in the ITER hybrid scenario as in the JET discharges analysed due to its high triangularity plasmas and the large amount of fast ions generated in the core by the heating systems and the alpha power.</p

Electromagnetic stabilization of tokamak microturbulence in a high- β regime

The impact of electromagnetic stabilization and flow shear stabilization on ITG turbulence is investigated. Analysis of a low- β JET L-mode discharge illustrates the relation between ITG stabilization and proximity to the electromagnetic instability threshold. This threshold is reduced by suprathermal pressure gradients, highlighting the effectiveness of fast ions in ITG stabilization. Extensive linear and nonlinear gyrokinetic simulations are then carried out for the high- β JET hybrid discharge 75225, at two separate locations at inner and outer radii. It is found that at the inner radius, nonlinear electromagnetic stabilization is dominant and is critical for achieving simulated heat fluxes in agreement with the experiment. The enhancement of this effect by suprathermal pressure also remains significant. It is also found that flow shear stabilization is not effective at the inner radii. However, at outer radii the situation is reversed. Electromagnetic stabilization is negligible while the flow shear stabilization is significant. These results constitute the high- β generalization of comparable observations found at low- β at JET. This is encouraging for the extrapolation of electromagnetic ITG stabilization to future devices. An estimation of the impact of this effect on the ITER hybrid scenario leads to a 20% fusion power improvement.</p