35 research outputs found
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Simulation of multi-frequency ECRH
We use a test particle simulation code to investigate electron cyclotron heating in a magnetic mirror well. A comparison is made between heating with one frequency and heating with two closely spaced frequencies. The code follows electron orbits in the presence of one or two monochromatic ECRH waves using guiding center equations and an equation for the electron gyrophase. Coulomb collisions with electrons and ions are simulated as a Monte Carlo scattering process. We find for the parameters of SM-1 that at the fundamental resonance the heating rate, or velocity rf diffusion coefficient, begins to decrease significantly from the quasilinear value for epsilon/sub e/ greater than or equal to 10 keV due to superadiabatic effects. As suggested by Howard et al., using multiple frequencies pushes the superadiabatic boundary to higher energies. For a given energy, the optimum frequency separations for two frequencies are those which cause the axial bounce resonances to interlace; i.e., odd multiples of the bounce frequency, ..omega../sub b/. This interlacing increases the chance of resonance overlap and thus stochasticity. If the frequency difference is equal to an even multiple of ..omega../sub b/, the diffusion coefficient returns to near its one frequency value. More generally, for more than two frequencies one should choose the frequency separation such that the bounce resonances interlace evenly. Detailed calculations are presented for SM-1 parameters
Assessment of X-point target divertor configuration for power handling and detachment front control
A study of long-legged tokamak divertor configurations is performed with the edge transport code UEDGE (Rognlien et al., J. Nucl. Mater. 196, 347, 1992). The model parameters are based on the ADX tokamak concept design (LaBombard et al., Nucl. Fusion 55, 053020, 2015). Several long-legged divertor configurations are considered, in particular the X-point target configuration proposed for ADX, and compared with a standard divertor. For otherwise identical conditions, a scan of the input power from the core plasma is performed. It is found that as the power is reduced to a threshold value, the plasma in the outer leg transitions to a fully detached state which defines the upper limit on the power for detached divertor operation. Reducing the power further results in the detachment front shifting upstream but remaining stable. At low power the detachment front eventually moves to the primary X-point, which is usually associated with degradation of the core plasma, and this defines the lower limit on the power for the detached divertor operation. For the studied parameters, the operation window for a detached divertor in the standard divertor configuration is very small, or even non-existent; under the same conditions for long-legged divertors the detached operation window is quite large, in particular for the X-point target configuration, allowing a factor of 5–10 variation in the input power. These modeling results point to possibility of stable fully detached divertor operation for a tokamak with extended divertor legs.United States. Department of Energy (Contract DE-AC52-07NA27344
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Induced magnetic-field effects in inductively coupled plasmas
In inductive plasma sources, the rapid spatial decay of the electric field arising from the skin effect produces a large radio frequency (RF) magnetic field via Faraday`s law. We previously determined that this magnetic field leads to a reduction of the electron density in the skin region, as well as a reduction in the collisionless heating rate. The electron deficit leads to the formation of an electrostatic potential which pulls electrons in to restore quasineutrality. Here we calculate the electron density including both the induced and electrostatic fields. If the wave frequency is not too low, the ions respond only to the averaged fields, and hence the electrostatic field is oscillatory, predominantly at the second harmonic of the applied field. We calculate the potential required to establish a constant electron density, and compare with numerical orbit-code calculations. For times short compared to ion transit times, the quasineutral density is just the initial ion density. For timescales long enough that the ions can relax, the density profile can be found from the solution of fluid equations with an effective (ponderomotive-like) potential added. Although the time-varying electrostatic potential is an extra source of heating, the net effect of the induced magnetic and electrostatic fields through trapping, early turning, and direct heating is a significant reduction in collisionless heating for parameters of interest
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EXB-Drift, Current, and Kinetic Effects on Divertor Plasma Profiles During ELMs
The transient heat load on divertor surfaces from Edge-Localized Modes (ELMs) in tokamaks can be very large and thus of concern for a large device such as ITER. Models for kinetic modifications to fluid models are discussed that should allow them to reasonably describe the long mean-free path regime encountered owing to the high electron and ion temperatures in the SOL during large ELMs. A set of two-dimensional (2D) simulations of the dynamic response of the scrape-off layer (SOL) plasma to an ELM is presented. The role of plasma currents and E x B motion is emphasized, which cause large changes in the response compared to models neglecting them
Initial simultaneous Thomson-scattering measurements in the TMX-U tandem mirror
In this report, we briefly describe the TMX-U Thomson-scattering systems; we compare TMX-U velocity-distribution measurements with computer modeling; and we present and discuss our first simultaneous measurements of end-plug and central-cell electron temperatures
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Mini-Conference on the First Microns of the First Wall
Interactions between plasmas and their surrounding materials (plasma facing components) are of great interest to present and future magnetic fusion experiments, and ITER [ITER Physics Basis Editors, ITER Physics Exper Group Chairs, ITER Joint Central Team, and Physics Inte gration Unit, Nucl. Fusion 39, 2137 (1999)] in particular. This interest is the result of concerns with the survivability of these materials, as well as the impact of these interactions back on the plasma. These interactions begin on the surface, but can have consequences a few microns into the material.This mini-conference on these "first microns" was designed to bring to the Division of Plasma Physics Meeting experts on these topics who would otherwise not attend. At the same time, the mini-conference was intended to expose the broader fusion community to these issues. The mini-conference covered in three, half-day sessions the topics of lithium coatings and surfaces, mixed materials characteristics, and issues associated with graphite