177 research outputs found
Mirror Langmuir probe: A technique for real-time measurement of magnetized plasma conditions using a single Langmuir electrode
Intermittent fluctuations in the Alcator C-Mod scrape-off layer for ohmic and high confinement mode plasmas
Plasma fluctuations in the scrape-off layer of the Alcator C-Mod tokamak in
ohmic and high confinement modes have been analyzed using gas puff imaging
data. In all cases investigated, the time series of emission from a single
spatially-resolved view into the gas puff are dominated by large-amplitude
bursts, attributed to blob-like filament structures moving radially outwards
and poloidally. There is a remarkable similarity of the fluctuation statistics
in ohmic plasmas and in edge localized mode-free and enhanced D-alpha high
confinement mode plasmas. Conditionally averaged wave forms have a two-sided
exponential shape with comparable temporal scales and asymmetry, while the
burst amplitudes and the waiting times between them are exponentially
distributed. The probability density functions and the frequency power spectral
densities are self-similar for all these confinement modes. These results are
strong evidence in support of a stochastic model describing the plasma
fluctuations in the scrape-off layer as a super-position of uncorrelated
exponential pulses. Predictions of this model are in excellent agreement with
experimental measurements in both ohmic and high confinement mode plasmas. The
stochastic model thus provides a valuable tool for predicting
fluctuation-induced plasma-wall interactions in magnetically confined fusion
plasmas.Comment: 17 pages, 10 figure
Comparison between mirror Langmuir probe and gas puff imaging measurements of intermittent fluctuations in the Alcator C-Mod scrape-off layer
Statistical properties of the scrape-off layer (SOL) plasma fluctuations are
studied in ohmically heated plasmas in the Alcator C-Mod tokamak. For the first
time, plasma fluctuations as well as parameters that describe the fluctuations
are compared across measurements from a mirror Langmuir probe (MLP) and from
gas-puff imaging (GPI) that sample the same plasma discharge. This comparison
is complemented by an analysis of line emission time-series data, synthesized
from the MLP electron density and temperature measurements. The fluctuations
observed by the MLP and GPI typically display relative fluctuation amplitudes
of order unity together with positively skewed and flattened probability
density functions. Such data time series are well described by an established
stochastic framework which model the data as a superposition of uncorrelated,
two-sided exponential pulses. The most important parameter of the process is
the intermittency parameter, {\gamma} = {\tau}d / {\tau}w where {\tau}d denotes
the duration time of a single pulse and {\tau}w gives the average waiting time
between consecutive pulses. Here we show, using a new deconvolution method,
that these parameters can be consistently estimated from different statistics
of the data. We also show that the statistical properties of the data sampled
by the MLP and GPI diagnostic are very similar. Finally, a comparison of the
GPI signal to the synthetic line-emission time series suggests that the
measured emission intensity can not be explained solely by a simplified model
which neglects neutral particle dynamics
Taming the Heat Flux Problem: Advanced Divertors Towards Fusion Power
The next generation fusion machines are likely to face enormous heat exhaust problems. In addition to summarizing major issues and physical processes connected with these problems, we discuss how advanced divertors, obtained by modifying the local geometry, may yield workable solutions. We also point out that: (1) the initial interpretation of recent experiments show that the advantages, predicted, for instance, for the X-divertor (in particular, being able to run a detached operation at high pedestal pressure) correlate very well with observations, and (2) the X-D geometry could be implemented on ITER (and DEMOS) respecting all the relevant constraints. A roadmap for future research efforts is proposed
Statistical features of edge turbulence in RFX-mod from Gas Puffing Imaging
Plasma density fluctuations in the edge plasma of the RFX-mod device are
measured through the Gas Puffing Imaging Diagnostics. Statistical features of
the signal are quantified in terms of the Probability Distribution Function
(PDF), and computed for several kinds of discharges. The PDFs from discharges
without particular control methods are found to be adequately described by a
Gamma function, consistently with the recent results by Graves et al [J.P.
Graves, et al, Plasma Phys. Control. Fusion 47, L1 (2005)]. On the other hand,
pulses with external methods for plasma control feature modified PDFs. A first
empirical analysis suggests that they may be interpolated through a linear
combination of simple functions. An inspection of the literature shows that
this kind of PDFs is common to other devices as well, and has been suggested to
be due to the simultaneous presence of different mechanisms driving
respectively coherent bursts and gaussian background turbulence. An attempt is
made to relate differences in the PDFs to plasma conditions such as the local
shift of the plasma column. A simple phenomenological model to interpret the
nature of the PDF and assign a meaning to its parameters is also developed.Comment: 27 pages. Published in PPC
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