Geodesic acoustic modes in a fluid model of tokamak plasma : the effects of finite beta and collisionality

Starting from the Braginskii equations, relevant for the tokamak edge region, a complete set of nonlinear equations for the geodesic acoustic modes (GAM) has been derived which includes collisionality, plasma beta and external sources of particle, momentum and heat. Local linear analysis shows that the GAM frequency increases with collisionality at low radial wave number $k_{r}$ and decreases at high $k_{r}$. GAM frequency also decreases with plasma beta. Radial profiles of GAM frequency for two Tore Supra shots, which were part of a collisionality scan, are compared with these calculations. Discrepency between experiment and theory is observed, which seems to be explained by a finite $k_{r}$ for the GAM when flux surface averaged density $\langle n \rangle$ and temperature $\langle T \rangle$ are assumed to vanish. It is shown that this agreement is incidental and self-consistent inclusion of $\langle n \rangle$ and $\langle T \rangle$ responses enhances the disagreement more with $k_r$ at high $k_{r}$ . So the discrepancy between the linear GAM calculation, (which persist also for more "complete" linear models such as gyrokinetics) can probably not be resolved by simply adding a finite $k_{r}$

Plasma turbulence measured by fast sweep reflectometry on TORE SUPRA

Traditionally devoted to electron density profile measurement we show that fast frequency sweeping reflectometry technique can bring valuable and innovative measurements onto plasma turbulence. While fast frequency sweeping technique is traditionally devoted to electron density radial profile measurements we show in this paper how we can handle the fluctuations of the reflected signal to recover plasma density fluctuation measurements with a high spatial and temporal resolution. Large size turbulence related to magneto-hydrodynamic (MHD) activity and the associated magnetic islands can be detected. The radial profile of the micro-turbulence, which is responsible for plasma anomalous transport processes, is experimentally determined through the fluctuation of the reflected phase signal.Comment: 12th International Congress on Plasma Physics, 25-29 October 2004, Nice (France

Analysis of longitudinal bunching inan FEL driven two-beam accelerator

Recent experiments [1] have explored the use of a free-electron laser (FEL) as a buncher for a microwave two-beam accelerator, and the subsequent driving of a standing-wave rf output cavity. Here we present a deeper analysis of the longitudinal dynamics of the electron bunches as they are transported from the end of the FEL and through the output cavity. In particular, we examine the effect of the transport region and cavity aperture to filter the bunched portion of the beam. [1] T. Lefevre, et. al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 84 (2000), 1188.Comment: 3 pages, 8 figures. Submitted to XX Int'l LINAC Conferenc

On non-zero space average density perturbation effects in tokamak plasma reflectometer signals

12th International Congress on Plasma Physics, 25-29 October 2004, Nice (France)The effects of the non-zero average density perturbation on phase and amplitude measured by reflectometry are presented. The non-zero average density perturbation on the phase variation can be seen as an index effect as soon as the shape of the density perturbation does not introduce spectral effects. Amplitude modulation in time follows generally the properties of the cut-off layer seen as a mirror but some specific situations produce a time modulation two times higher than the input time variation of the density perturbation as observed in Tore Supra. The introduction of secondary cut-off can exhibit this effect as shown in 2D simulations

Results on the interaction of an intense bunched electron beam with resonant cavities at 35 GHz

The Two-Beam Accelerator (TBA) concept is currently being investigated both at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) and at CERN. As part of this program, a 7 MeV, 1-kA electron beam produced by the PIVAIR accelerator at CESTA has been used to power a free electron laser (FEL) amplifier at 35 GHz. At the FEL exit, the bunched electron beam is transported and focused into a resonant cavity built by the CLIC group at CERN. The power and frequency of the microwave output generated when the bunched beam traverses two different cavities are measured. (7 refs)

Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cells Capture and Cross-Present Viral Antigens from Influenza-Virus Exposed Cells

Among the different subsets of dendritic cells (DC), plasmacytoid dendritic cells (PDC) play a unique role in secreting large amounts of type I interferons upon viral stimulation, but their efficiency as antigen-presenting cells has not been completely characterized. We show here, by flow cytometry, with human primary blood PDC and with a PDC cell line, that PDC display poor endocytic capacity for soluble or cellular antigens when compared to monocyte-derived myeloid DC. However, immature PDC efficiently take up cellular material from live influenza-exposed cells, subsequently mature and cross-present viral antigens very efficiently to specific CD8+ T cells. Therefore, during viral infection PDC not only secrete immunomodulatory cytokines, but also recognize infected cells and function as antigen cross-presenting cells to trigger the anti-viral immune response