Enhanced D-Alpha H-mode Studies in the Alcator C-Mod Tokamak

Enhanced D-Alpha H-mode Studies in the Alcator C-Mod Tokamak
Author: Earl S. Marmar
Publisher:
Total Pages: 6
Release: 2000
Genre:
ISBN:

A favorable regime of H-mode confinement, seen on the Alcator C-Mod tokamak is described. Following a brief period of ELM-free H-mode, the plasma evolves into the Enhanced D-Alpha (EDA) H-mode which is characterized by very good energy confinement, the complete absence of large, intermittent type I ELMs, finite impurity and majority species confinement, and low radiated power fraction. Accompanying the EDA H-mode, a quasi-coherent (QC) edge mode is observed, and found to be responsible for particle transport through the edge confinement barrier. The QC-mode is localized within the strong density gradient region, and has poloidal wavenumber and lab-frame frequency of 100 kHz. Parametric studies show that the conditions which promote EDA include moderate safety factor, high triangularity (d>0.35) and high target density (ne>1.2x20 m-3). EDA H-mode is readily obtained in purely ohmic and well as in ICRF auxiliary-heated discharges.

Study of High Performance Mode Access Conditions on the Alcator C-Mod Tokamak

Study of High Performance Mode Access Conditions on the Alcator C-Mod Tokamak
Author: Yunxing Ma
Publisher:
Total Pages: 210
Release: 2013
Genre:
ISBN:

Usually when sufficient heating power is injected, tokamak plasma will make an abrupt transition into a state with improved confinement, known as the high-confinement mode, or H-mode. Given the greatly enhanced fusion yield, H-mode is foreseen as the baseline scenario for the future plasma operation of the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER). Many research efforts have been given to understand the criteria for H-mode access. To further contribute to this research, a primary focus of this thesis is characterizing the H-mode access conditions in the Alcator C-Mod tokamak, across a broad range of plasma density, magnetic field, and plasma current. In addition, dedicated experiments were designed and executed on C-Mod, to explore the effects of divertor geometry, ICRF resonance location, and main ion species on H-mode access conditions. Results from these experiments will be included in this thesis. The underlying physics of H-mode access is very complex, and the critical mechanisms remain largely unresolved. To promote our understanding, some models proposed for the H-mode transition are tested, using well documented local plasma conditions, obtained in C-Mod experiments. In particular, this thesis pioneers the test of a recently developed model for H-mode threshold power predictions.

Driven Rotation, Self-Generated Flow, and Momentum Transport in Tokamak Plasmas

Driven Rotation, Self-Generated Flow, and Momentum Transport in Tokamak Plasmas
Author: John Rice
Publisher: Springer Nature
Total Pages: 158
Release: 2022-01-13
Genre: Science
ISBN: 3030922669

This book provides a comprehensive look at the state of the art of externally driven and self-generated rotation as well as momentum transport in tokamak plasmas. In addition to recent developments, the book includes a review of rotation measurement techniques, measurements of directly and indirectly driven rotation, momentum sinks, self-generated flow, and momentum transport. These results are presented alongside summaries of prevailing theory and are compared to predictions, bringing together both experimental and theoretical perspectives for a broad look at the field. Both researchers and graduate students in the field of plasma physics will find this book to be a useful reference. Although there is an emphasis on tokamaks, a number of the concepts are also relevant to other configurations.

Fusion Energy Program

Fusion Energy Program
Author: United States. Congress. House. Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight
Publisher:
Total Pages: 820
Release: 1990
Genre: Fusion reactors
ISBN:

New Ideas in Tokamak Confinement

New Ideas in Tokamak Confinement
Author: Marshall N. Rosenbluth
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 514
Release: 1997-05-08
Genre: Science
ISBN: 9781563961311

Market: Scientists and students involved in thermonuclear fusion research. Thermonuclear fusion research using the confinement device tokamak represents one of the most prominent science projects in the second half of the 20th century. International Tokamak Community is now committing significant effort and funds to experiments with burning plasma, hot and dense enough to produce significant nuclear fusion reactions. The methods used to enhance tokamak performance have a profound and immediate effect on machine design. This book provides an up-to-date account of research in tokamak fusion and puts forward innovative ideas in confinement physics.

Phase Contrast Imaging on the Alcator C-Mod Tokamak

Phase Contrast Imaging on the Alcator C-Mod Tokamak
Author: Alexander Mazurenko
Publisher:
Total Pages: 320
Release: 2001
Genre:
ISBN:

Phase Contrast Imaging (PCI) is a new diagnostic that was built for the Alcator C-Mod tokamak. It measures line-integrated (along 12 vertical chords) plasma density perturbations with good temporal (2-500 kHz) and wavenumber (0.5-12 /cm) resolution. The Quasi-Coherent (QC) fluctuation mode was studied using the PCI and other diagnostics. The mode was found to cause fluctuation of density, electric and magnetic field in the plasma edge with typical frequency of 100 kHz and typical poloidal wavenumber of about 5/cm. The mode was found to be responsible for confinement properties of the "Enhanced D-alpha H-mode" (a particularly favorable regime of tokamak operation). Through numerical modeling, the physical origin of the fluctuations was tentatively identified as "resistive X-point" mode (a kind of resistive ballooning mode strongly affected by the X-point configuration of magnetic field lines). The PCI system has been upgraded to detect waves in the ion cyclotron range of frequencies (ICRF, 40-80 MHz) by means of optical heterodyning - a technique based on modulation of the diagnostic laser beam near the wave frequency. The upgraded system was then used to study propagation of the Fast Magnetosonic Waves. These waves, which have never been measured in detail in past experiments, are being used to heat the tokamak plasma at the megawatt power level. The measured results were compared to the simple cold-plasma dispersion relation and to predictions of the full-wave 3D numerical modeling.

Double Transport Barrier Experiments on Alcator C-Mod

Double Transport Barrier Experiments on Alcator C-Mod
Author: Stephen J. Wukitch
Publisher:
Total Pages: 42
Release: 2002
Genre:
ISBN:

Double transport barrier modes (simultaneous core and edge transport barrier) have been observed with off-axis ion cyclotron range of frequencies (ICRF) heating in the Alcator C-Mod tokamak [I.H. Hutchinson et al., Phys. Plasmas 1, 1511(1994)]. An internal transport barrier (ITB) is routinely produced in enhanced D[alpha] H-mode (EDA) discharges where the minority ion cyclotron resonance layer is at r/a (0.5) during the current flat top phase of the discharge. The density profile becomes peaked without the presence of a particle source in the plasma core and continues to peak until the increased core impurity radiation arrests the improved energy confinement, ultimately leading to a barrier collapse. With the addition of moderate (0.6 MW) central ICRF heating, the double barrier mode was maintained for as long as the ICRF power was applied and modeling shows that the internal thermal barrier was maintained throughout the discharge. The presence of sawteeth throughout most of the ITB discharge allows sawtooth induced heat pulse analysis to be performed. This analysis indicates that there is an abrupt radial discontinuity in the heat pulse time to peak profile when an ITB is present. Furthermore, this discontinuity appears to move into the core plasma from the edge region in about 0.2 sec, several confinement times. The deduced thermal diffusivity, Xhp indicates a barrier exists in the electron thermal transport, the barrier is limited to a narrow radial region, and the transport is unaffected outside this narrow radial extent.

Core Internal Transport Barriers on Alcator C-Mod

Core Internal Transport Barriers on Alcator C-Mod
Author: Catherine L. Fiore
Publisher:
Total Pages: 26
Release: 2000
Genre:
ISBN:

The formation of internal transport barriers (ITB) has been observed in the core region of Alcator C-Mod under a variety of conditions. The improvement in core confinement following pellet injection (pellet enhanced performance or PEP mode) has been well documented on Alcator C-Mod in the past. Recently three new ITB phenomena have been observed which require no externally applied particle or momentum input. Short lived ITBs form spontaneously following the high confinement (H) to low confinement (L) mode transition and are characterized by a large increase in the global neutron production (enhanced neutron or EN modes.) Experiments with ICRF (ion cyclotron range of frequencies) power injection to the plasma off-axis on the high field side results in the central density rising abruptly and becoming peaked. The ITB formed at this time lasts for 10 energy confinement times. The central toroidal rotation velocity decreases and changes sign as the density rises. Similar spontaneous ITBs have been observed in ohmically heated H-mode plasmas. All of these ITB events have strongly peaked density profiles with a minimum in the density scale length occurring near r/a = 0.5 and have improved confinement parameters in the core region of the plasma. Keywords: Alcator C-Mod; confinement; tokamaks; transport phenomena; neutrons.