Progress in development and applications of cherenkovtype detectors for fast electron studies in tokamaks

The paper presents advance in a new method developed in the Institute for Nuclear Studies (IPJ) for direct detection of high-energy (super-thermal, runaway) electrons generated in tokamaks. The technique in question is based on registration of the Cherenkov radiation, emitted by energetic electrons, moving through a transparent medium (radiator body) with a velocity higher than the velocity of light in this material. The main aim of the presented studies was to develop a diagnostic technique applicable for investigation of fast electron beams within magnetic confinement fusion (MCF) facilities.Представлено досягнення нового методу, розробленого в Інституті ядерних досліджень(ИЯД) для прямої реєстрації високоенергетичних (надтеплових, втікаючих) електронів, генеруємих у токамаках. Технічно задача заснована на реєстрації черенковського випромінювання, що випускається енергетичними електронами, які рухаються через прозоре середовище(випромінювальне тіло) зі швидкістю вище швидкості світла в даному матеріалі. Основною метою представлених досліджень була розробка діагностичної методики, застосованої для вивчення швидких електронних пучків у термоядерних магнітних пастках(ТМП).Представлены достижения нового метода, разработанного в Институте ядерных исследований (ИЯИ) для прямой регистрации высокоэнергетических (надтепловых, убегающих) электронов, генеруємых в токамаках. Технически задача основана на регистрации черенковского излучения, испускаемого энергитичными электронами, движущимся через прозрачную среду(излучательное тело) со скоростью выше скорости света в данном материале. Основной целью представленных исследований была разработка диагностической методики, применимой для изучения быстрых электронных пучков в термоядерных магнитных ловушках(ТМЛ)

Studies of run-away electron beams and hard x-ray emission in ISTTOK tokamak

The paper describes measurements of fast run-away electron beams emitted from a plasma torus in the ISTTOK tokamak, which were performed by means of a new Cherenkov-type detector equipped with four radiators made of aluminium-nitrate (AlN) crystals of 10 mm in diameter and 2.5 mm in thickness each. The measuring head was fixed to a movable support, which enabled the radiators to be placed in chosen positions along the minor radius of ISTTOK. The radiators were coated with molybdenum (Mo) layers of different thicknesses since the main aim of this study was to estimate an energy spectrum of the recorded electrons. Attention was also paid to measurements of hard X-rays emitted from ISTTOK and to their correlations with run-away electrons. The investigated correlations showed that the both emissions are strongly coupled.Описано виміри швидких втікаючих електронних пучків, що випускається з плазмового тора в токамаці ISTTOK, що було виконано за допомогою нових черенковських детекторів, оснащених чотирма радіаторами з нітратуалюмінію (AIN) із кристалами діаметром 10 і товщиною 2,5мм кожний. Вимірювальна головка була встановлена на рухливій підставі,що дозволило розміщати радіатори в обраних позиціях по малому радіусі ISTTOK. Радіатори були покриті молібденовими (Мо) шарами різної товщини ,оскільки основною метою даного дослідження було оцінити енергетичний спектр електронів, що регіструються. Увага була також приділена виміру твердого рентгенівського випромінювання з ISTTOK і його кореляції з втікаючими електронами. Досліджені кореляції показали, що обоє випромінювання сильно зв’язані.Описываются измерения быстрых убегающих электронных пучков, испускаемых из плазменного тора в токамаке ISTTOK, которые были выполнены с помощью новых черенковских детекторов, оснащенных четырьмя радиаторами из нитратаалюминия (AIN) с кристаллами диаметром 10 и толщиной 2,5 мм каждый. Измерительная головка была установлена на подвижном основании, что позволило размещать радиаторы в выбранных позициях по малому радиусу ISTTOK. Радиаторы были покрыты молибденовыми (Мо) слоями различной толщины, поскольку основной целью данного исследования было оценить энергетический спектр регистрируемых электронов. Внимание было также уделено измерению жесткого рентгеновского излучения из ISTTOK и его корреляции с убегающими электронами. Исследованные корреляции показали, что оба излучения сильно связаны

Overview of the FTU results

Since the 2016 IAEA Fusion Energy Conference, FTU operations have been mainly devoted to experiments on runaway electrons and investigations into a tin liquid limiter; other experiments have involved studies of elongated plasmas and dust. The tearing mode onset in the high density regime has been studied by means of the linear resistive code MARS, and the highly collisional regimes have been investigated. New diagnostics, such as a runaway electron imaging spectroscopy system for in-flight runaway studies and a triple Cherenkov probe for the measurement of escaping electrons, have been successfully installed and tested, and new capabilities of the collective Thomson scattering and the laser induced breakdown spectroscopy diagnostics have been explored

Overview of the TCV tokamak experimental programme

The tokamak a configuration variable (TCV) continues to leverage its unique shaping capabilities, flexible heating systems and modern control system to address critical issues in preparation for ITER and a fusion power plant. For the 2019-20 campaign its configurational flexibility has been enhanced with the installation of removable divertor gas baffles, its diagnostic capabilities with an extensive set of upgrades and its heating systems with new dual frequency gyrotrons. The gas baffles reduce coupling between the divertor and the main chamber and allow for detailed investigations on the role of fuelling in general and, together with upgraded boundary diagnostics, test divertor and edge models in particular. The increased heating capabilities broaden the operational regime to include T (e)/T (i) similar to 1 and have stimulated refocussing studies from L-mode to H-mode across a range of research topics. ITER baseline parameters were reached in type-I ELMy H-modes and alternative regimes with \u27small\u27 (or no) ELMs explored. Most prominently, negative triangularity was investigated in detail and confirmed as an attractive scenario with H-mode level core confinement but an L-mode edge. Emphasis was also placed on control, where an increased number of observers, actuators and control solutions became available and are now integrated into a generic control framework as will be needed in future devices. The quantity and quality of results of the 2019-20 TCV campaign are a testament to its successful integration within the European research effort alongside a vibrant domestic programme and international collaborations

Physics research on the TCV tokamak facility: from conventional to alternative scenarios and beyond

The research program of the TCV tokamak ranges from conventional to advanced-tokamak scenarios and alternative divertor configurations, to exploratory plasmas driven by theoretical insight, exploiting the device’s unique shaping capabilities. Disruption avoidance by real-time locked mode prevention or unlocking with electron-cyclotron resonance heating (ECRH) was thoroughly documented, using magnetic and radiation triggers. Runaway generation with high-Z noble-gas injection and runaway dissipation by subsequent Ne or Ar injection were studied for model validation. The new 1 MW neutral beam injector has expanded the parameter range, now encompassing ELMy H-modes in an ITER-like shape and nearly non-inductive H-mode discharges sustained by electron cyclotron and neutral beam current drive. In the H-mode, the pedestal pressure increases modestly with nitrogen seeding while fueling moves the density pedestal outwards, but the plasma stored energy is largely uncorrelated to either seeding or fueling. High fueling at high triangularity is key to accessing the attractive small edge-localized mode (type-II) regime. Turbulence is reduced in the core at negative triangularity, consistent with increased confinement and in accord with global gyrokinetic simulations. The geodesic acoustic mode, possibly coupled with avalanche events, has been linked with particle flow to the wall in diverted plasmas. Detachment, scrape-off layer transport, and turbulence were studied in L- and H-modes in both standard and alternative configurations (snowflake, super-X, and beyond). The detachment process is caused by power ‘starvation’ reducing the ionization source, with volume recombination playing only a minor role. Partial detachment in the H-mode is obtained with impurity seeding and has shown little dependence on flux expansion in standard single-null geometry. In the attached L-mode phase, increasing the outer connection length reduces the in–out heat-flow asymmetry. A doublet plasma, featuring an internal X-point, was achieved successfully, and a transport barrier was observed in the mantle just outside the internal separatrix. In the near future variable-configuration baffles and possibly divertor pumping will be introduced to investigate the effect of divertor closure on exhaust and performance, and 3.5 MW ECRH and 1 MW neutral beam injection heating will be added

Observations of extreme ultraviolet emission from plasma produced by capillary discharges

This study reports the results of a pilot experiment concerning observations of extreme ultraviolet emission from plasma produced by the capillary discharges. A few kA current was applied across the gas-filled alumina capillary (1 mm diameter and 8 mm long) to generate radiation in the EUV region (12–63 nm). Spectroscopic studies were carried out by means of a XEUV spectrometer which was upgraded for special lithography purposes. The results obtained from the EUV spectroscopic measurements provided information about the radiation processes from xenon and argon plasma and testifies that given capillary is an effective source of EUV emission. Additionally we showed a simulation which describes plasma dynamics parameters and dynamics of various ionization stages in capillary discharge. Our computer simulation confirmed the presence of ions, which spectra was registered in the experiment

Barley starch

This thesis examined barley amylopectin structure and looked for correlations between the structure and physical properties of starch. The structure of amylopectin and gelatinisation and retrogradation of starch were studied in 10 different barley cultivars/breeding lines with differing genetic background. Amylopectin is built up of thousands of chains of glucose monomers, organised into clusters. The detailed fine structure of amylopectin was studied by isolating clusters of amylopectin and their building blocks, which are the tightly branched units building up the clusters. Barley cultivars/breeding lines possessing the amo1 mutation had fewer long chains of DP≥38 in amylopectin and more large building blocks. The structure of building blocks was rather conserved between the different barley cultivars/breeding lines studied and was categorized into different size groups. These different building blocks were shown to be randomly distributed in the amylopectin molecule. The C-chains in amylopectin can be of any length and are a category of chains different from the B-chains. The backbone in amylopectin consists of a special type of B-chains which, when cleaved by α-amylase, become chains of a similar type to C-chains. Gelatinisation and retrogradation (recrystallisation of gelatinised starch) of barley starch was studied by differential scanning calorimetry. The amo1 mutation resulted in a broader gelatinisation temperature range and a higher enthalpy of retrogradation. Other structural features were also found to influence the physical properties of starch. Small clusters and denser structure of the building blocks resulted in higher gelatinisation temperature. Fast retrogradation was observed in barley which had amylopectin with shorter chains and many large building blocks consisting of many chains. Amylopectin structure was also studied in developing barley kernels. Three barley cultivars/breeding lines were grown in a phytotron and kernels were harvested at 9, 12 and 24 days after flowering. The results showed that amylopectin synthesized at later stages of development had a more tightly branched structure. Expression of the enzymes involved in starch biosynthesis is also known to change during endosperm development