Study of the conditions for spontaneous H-mode transitions in DIII-D

A series of scaling studies attempting to correlate the H(high)-mode power threshold (P{sub TH}) with global parameters have been conducted. Data from these discharges is also being used to look for dependence of P{sub TH} on local edge parameters and to test theories of the transition. Boronization and better operational techniques have resulted in lower power thresholds and weaker density scaling. Neon impurity injection experiments show that radiation also plays a role in determining P{sub TH}. A low density threshold for the L(low)-H(high) transition has been linked with the locked mode low density limit, and can be reduced with the use of an error field correcting coil. Highly developed edge diagnostics, with spatial resolution as low as 5 mm, are used to evaluate how the power threshold depends on local edge conditions. Preliminary analysis of local edge conditions for parameter scans of n{sub e}, B{sub T}, and I{sub p} in single-null discharges, and the X-point imbalance in double-null discharges-show that, just before the transition to H-mode, the edge temperatures near the separatrix are approximately constant at 100 < T{sub i} < 220 eV and 35 < T{sub e} < 130 eV, even though the threshold power varied from 1.5 to 14 MW. During a density scan, the edge ion collisionality, v{sub *i}, varied from 2 to 17, demonstrating that a transition condition as simple as v{sub *i} = constant is inconsistent with the data. The local edge parameters of n{sub e}, T{sub e}, and T{sub i} do not always follow the same global scaling as P{sub TH}. Therefore, theories of the L-H transition need not be constrained by these scalings

A model for microinstability destabilization and enhanced transport in the presence of shielded 3-D magnetic perturbations

A mechanism is presented that suggests shielded 3-D magnetic perturbations can destabilize microinstabilities and enhance the associated anomalous transport. Using local 3-D equilibrium theory, shaped tokamak equilibria with small 3-D deformations are constructed. In the vicinity of rational magnetic surfaces, the infinite-n ideal MHD ballooning stability boundary is strongly perturbed by the 3-D modulations of the local magnetic shear associated with the presence of nearresonant Pfirsch-Schluter currents. These currents are driven by 3-D components of the magnetic field spectrum even when there is no resonant radial component. The infinite-n ideal ballooning stability boundary is often used as a proxy for the onset of virulent kinetic ballooning modes (KBM) and associated stiff transport. These results suggest that the achievable pressure gradient may be lowered in the vicinity of low order rational surfaces when 3-D magnetic perturbations are applied. This mechanism may provide an explanation for the observed reduction in the peak pressure gradient at the top of the edge pedestal during experiments where edge localized modes have been completely suppressed by applied 3-D magnetic fields

Study of H-Mode Threshold Conditions in DIII-D

Studies have been conducted in DIII-D to determine the dependence of the power threshold P{sub lh} for the transition to the H-mode regime and the threshold P{sub hl} for the transition from H-mode to L-mode as functions of external parameters. There is a value of the line-averaged density n{sub e} at which P{sub lh} has a minimum and P{sub lh} tends to increase for lower and higher values of n{sub e}. Experiments conducted to separate the effect of the neutral density n{sub 0} from the plasma density n{sub e} give evidence of a strong coupling between n{sub 0} and n{sub e}. The separate effect of neutrals on the transition has not been determined. Coordinated experiments with JET made in the ITER shape show that P{sub lh} increases approximately as S{sup 0.5} where S is the plasma surface area. For these discharges, the power threshold in DIII-D was high by normal standards, thus suggesting that effects other than plasma size may have affected the experiment. Studies of H-L transitions have been initiated and hysteresis of order 40% has been observed. Studies have also been done of the dependence of the L-H transition on local edge parameters. Characterization of the edge within a few ms prior to the transition shows that the range of edge temperatures at which the transition has been observed is more restrictive than the range of densities at which it occurs. These results suggest that some temperature function is important for controlling the transition

Negative-energy perturbations in cylindrical equilibria with a radial electric field

The impact of an equilibrium radial electric field $E$ on negative-energy perturbations (NEPs) (which are potentially dangerous because they can lead to either linear or nonlinear explosive instabilities) in cylindrical equilibria of magnetically confined plasmas is investigated within the framework of Maxwell-drift kinetic theory. It turns out that for wave vectors with a non-vanishing component parallel to the magnetic field the conditions for the existence of NEPs in equilibria with E=0 [G. N. Throumoulopoulos and D. Pfirsch, Phys. Rev. E 53, 2767 (1996)] remain valid, while the condition for the existence of perpendicular NEPs, which are found to be the most important perturbations, is modified. For $|e_i\phi|\approx T_i$ ($\phi$ is the electrostatic potential) and $T_i/T_e > \beta_c\approx P/(B^2/8\pi)$ ($P$ is the total plasma pressure), a case which is of operational interest in magnetic confinement systems, the existence of perpendicular NEPs depends on $e_\nu E$, where $e_\nu$ is the charge of the particle species $\nu$. In this case the electric field can reduce the NEPs activity in the edge region of tokamaklike and stellaratorlike equilibria with identical parabolic pressure profiles, the reduction of electron NEPs being more pronounced than that of ion NEPs.Comment: 30 pages, late

Zonal flows and long-distance correlations during the formation of the edge shear layer in the TJ-II stellarator

A theoretical interpretation is given for the observed long-distance correlations in potential fluctuations in TJ-II. The value of the correlation increases above the critical point of the transition for the emergence of the plasma edge shear flow layer. Mean (i.e. surface averaged, zero-frequency) sheared flows cannot account for the experimental results. A model consisting of four envelope equations for the fluctuation level, the mean flow shear, the zonal flow amplitude shear, and the averaged pressure gradient is proposed. It is shown that the presence of zonal flows is essential to reproduce the main features of the experimental observations.Comment: 19 pages, 7 figure

Comparison of L-H transition measurements with physics models

A technique of fitting a modified hyperbolic tangent to the edge profiles has improved the localization of plasma edge parameters. Non-dimensional edge parameters are broadly consistent with several theories of the L-H transition that use edge gradients in their formulation of a critical threshold parameter. The ion {del}B drift direction has only a small effect on the edge plasma conditions measured near the plasma midplane but a large effect on the divertor plasma. The dramatic change of power threshold with the direction of the ion {del}B drift implies that phenomena in the divertor region may be critical for the L-H transition

Lifeworld Inc. : and what to do about it

Can we detect changes in the way that the world turns up as they turn up? This paper makes such an attempt. The first part of the paper argues that a wide-ranging change is occurring in the ontological preconditions of Euro-American cultures, based in reworking what and how an event is produced. Driven by the security – entertainment complex, the aim is to mass produce phenomenological encounter: Lifeworld Inc as I call it. Swimming in a sea of data, such an aim requires the construction of just enough authenticity over and over again. In the second part of the paper, I go on to argue that this new world requires a different kind of social science, one that is experimental in its orientation—just as Lifeworld Inc is—but with a mission to provoke awareness in untoward ways in order to produce new means of association. Only thus, or so I argue, can social science add to the world we are now beginning to live in

Comprehensive Measurements and Modeling of SOL, and Core Plasma Fueling and Carbon Sources in DIII-D

Plasma boundary modeling of low density, low confinement plasmas in DIII-D has been benchmarked against a comprehensive set of measurements and indicates that recycling of deuterium ions at the divertor targets, and chemical sputtering at the divertor target plates and walls, can explain the poloidal core fueling profile and core carbon density. Key measurements included the 2-D intensity distribution of deuterium neutral and low-charge state carbon emission in the divertor and around the midplane of the high-field scrape-off layer (SOL). Chemical sputtering plays an important role in producing carbon at the divertor targets and walls, and was found to be a prerequisite to reproduce the measured emission distribution