| 1. |
- Murari, A., et al.
(author)
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A control oriented strategy of disruption prediction to avoid the configuration collapse of tokamak reactors
- 2024
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In: Nature Communications. - 2041-1723 .- 2041-1723. ; 15:1
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The objective of thermonuclear fusion consists of producing electricity from the coalescence of light nuclei in high temperature plasmas. The most promising route to fusion envisages the confinement of such plasmas with magnetic fields, whose most studied configuration is the tokamak. Disruptions are catastrophic collapses affecting all tokamak devices and one of the main potential showstoppers on the route to a commercial reactor. In this work we report how, deploying innovative analysis methods on thousands of JET experiments covering the isotopic compositions from hydrogen to full tritium and including the major D-T campaign, the nature of the various forms of collapse is investigated in all phases of the discharges. An original approach to proximity detection has been developed, which allows determining both the probability of and the time interval remaining before an incoming disruption, with adaptive, from scratch, real time compatible techniques. The results indicate that physics based prediction and control tools can be developed, to deploy realistic strategies of disruption avoidance and prevention, meeting the requirements of the next generation of devices.
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| 2. |
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| 3. |
- Fenstermacher, M.E., et al.
(author)
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DIII-D research advancing the physics basis for optimizing the tokamak approach to fusion energy
- 2022
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In: Nuclear Fusion. - : IOP Publishing. - 0029-5515 .- 1741-4326. ; 62:4
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- DIII-D physics research addresses critical challenges for the operation of ITER and the next generation of fusion energy devices. This is done through a focus on innovations to provide solutions for high performance long pulse operation, coupled with fundamental plasma physics understanding and model validation, to drive scenario development by integrating high performance core and boundary plasmas. Substantial increases in off-axis current drive efficiency from an innovative top launch system for EC power, and in pressure broadening for Alfven eigenmode control from a co-/counter-I p steerable off-axis neutral beam, all improve the prospects for optimization of future long pulse/steady state high performance tokamak operation. Fundamental studies into the modes that drive the evolution of the pedestal pressure profile and electron vs ion heat flux validate predictive models of pedestal recovery after ELMs. Understanding the physics mechanisms of ELM control and density pumpout by 3D magnetic perturbation fields leads to confident predictions for ITER and future devices. Validated modeling of high-Z shattered pellet injection for disruption mitigation, runaway electron dissipation, and techniques for disruption prediction and avoidance including machine learning, give confidence in handling disruptivity for future devices. For the non-nuclear phase of ITER, two actuators are identified to lower the L-H threshold power in hydrogen plasmas. With this physics understanding and suite of capabilities, a high poloidal beta optimized-core scenario with an internal transport barrier that projects nearly to Q = 10 in ITER at ∼8 MA was coupled to a detached divertor, and a near super H-mode optimized-pedestal scenario with co-I p beam injection was coupled to a radiative divertor. The hybrid core scenario was achieved directly, without the need for anomalous current diffusion, using off-axis current drive actuators. Also, a controller to assess proximity to stability limits and regulate β N in the ITER baseline scenario, based on plasma response to probing 3D fields, was demonstrated. Finally, innovative tokamak operation using a negative triangularity shape showed many attractive features for future pilot plant operation.
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| 4. |
- Fitzgerald, M., et al.
(author)
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Toroidal Alfven eigenmode stability in JET internal transport barrier afterglow experiments
- 2022
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In: Nuclear Fusion. - : IOP Publishing. - 0029-5515 .- 1741-4326. ; 62:10
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- In this work, we use reduced and perturbative models to examine the stability of toroidal Alfven eigenmodes (TAEs) during the internal transport barrier (ITB) afterglow in JET experiments designed for the observation of alpha driven TAEs. We demonstrate that in JET-like conditions, it is sufficient to use an incompressible cold plasma model for the TAE to reproduce the experimental adiabatic features such as frequency and position. When ion cyclotron resonant heating (ICRH) is used to destabilize TAEs, the core-localised modes that are predicted to be most strongly driven by minority ICRH fast ions correspond to the modes observed in the DD experiments, and conversely, modes that are predicted to not be driven are not observed. Linear damping rates due to a variety of mechanisms acting during the afterglow are calculated, with important contributions coming from the neutral beam and radiative damping. For DT equivalent extrapolations of discharges without ICRH heating, we find that for the majority of modes, alpha drive is not sufficient to overcome radiative damping.
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| 5. |
- Kazakov, Ye O., et al.
(author)
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Physics and applications of three-ion ICRF scenarios for fusion research
- 2021
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In: Physics of Plasmas. - : American Institute of Physics (AIP). - 1070-664X .- 1089-7674. ; 28:2
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Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- This paper summarizes the physical principles behind the novel three-ion scenarios using radio frequency waves in the ion cyclotron range of frequencies (ICRF). We discuss how to transform mode conversion electron heating into a new flexible ICRF technique for ion cyclotron heating and fast-ion generation in multi-ion species plasmas. The theoretical section provides practical recipes for selecting the plasma composition to realize three-ion ICRF scenarios, including two equivalent possibilities for the choice of resonant absorbers that have been identified. The theoretical findings have been convincingly confirmed by the proof-of-principle experiments in mixed H–D plasmas on the Alcator C-Mod and JET tokamaks, using thermal 3He and fast D ions from neutral beam injection as resonant absorbers. Since 2018, significant progress has been made on the ASDEX Upgrade and JET tokamaks in H–4He and H–D plasmas, guided by the ITER needs. Furthermore, the scenario was also successfully applied in JET D–3He plasmas as a technique to generate fusion-born alpha particles and study effects of fast ions on plasma confinement under ITER-relevant plasma heating conditions. Tuned for the central deposition of ICRF power in a small region in the plasma core of large devices such as JET, three-ion ICRF scenarios are efficient in generating large populations of passing fast ions and modifying the q-profile. Recent experimental and modeling developments have expanded the use of three-ion scenarios from dedicated ICRF studies to a flexible tool with a broad range of different applications in fusion research.
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| 6. |
- Kazakov, Ye. O., et al.
(author)
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Plasma heating and generation of energetic D ions with the 3-ion ICRF + NBI scenario in mixed H-D plasmas at JET-ILW
- 2020
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In: Nuclear Fusion. - : IOP PUBLISHING LTD. - 0029-5515 .- 1741-4326. ; 60:11
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Dedicated experiments were conducted in mixed H-D plasmas in JET to demonstrate the efficiency of the 3-ion ICRF scenario for plasma heating, relying on injected fast NBI ions as the resonant ion component. Strong core localization of the RF power deposition in the close vicinity of the ion-ion hybrid layer was achieved, resulting in an efficient plasma heating, generation of energetic D ions, strong enhancement of the neutron rate and observation of Alfvenic modes. A consistent physical picture that emerged from a range of fast-ion measurements at JET, including neutron and gamma-ray measurements, a high-energy neutral particle analyzer and MHD mode localization analysis, is presented. The possibility to moderate the fast-ion energies with the ratioP(ICRF)/P(NBI)and the choice of the NBI injectors is demonstrated. An outlook of possible applications of the 3-ion scenarios, including a recent example of its use in mixed D-He-3 plasmas in JET and promising scenarios for D-T plasmas, are presented.
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| 7. |
- Kiptily, V. G., et al.
(author)
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Excitation of Alfven eigenmodes by fusion-born alpha-particles in D-He-3 plasmas on JET
- 2022
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In: Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion. - : IOP Publishing Ltd. - 0741-3335 .- 1361-6587. ; 64:6
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Alfven eigenmode (AE) instabilities driven by alpha-particles have been observed in D-He-3 fusion experiments on the Joint European Torus (JET) with the ITER-like wall. For the efficient generation of fusion alpha-particles from D-He-3 fusion reaction, the three-ion radio frequency scenario was used to accelerate the neutral beam injection 100 keV deuterons to higher energies in the core of mixed D-He-3 plasmas at high concentrations of He-3. A large variety of fast-ion driven magnetohydrodynamic modes were observed, including the elliptical Alfven eigenmodes (EAEs) with mode numbers n = -1 and axisymmetric modes with n = 0 in the frequency range of EAEs. The simultaneous observation of these modes indicates the presence of rather strong alpha-particle population in the plasma with a 'bump-on-tail' shaped velocity distribution. Linear stability analysis and Fokker-Planck calculations support the observations. Experimental evidence of the AEs excitation by fusion-born alpha-particles in the D-He-3 plasma is provided by neutron and gamma-ray diagnostics as well as fast-ion loss measurements. We discuss an experimental proposal for the planned full-scale D-T plasma experiments on JET based on the physics insights gained from these experiments.
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| 8. |
- Kiptily, V. G., et al.
(author)
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Observation of alpha-particles in recent D-T experiments on JET
- 2024
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In: Nuclear Fusion. - : Institute of Physics (IOP). - 0029-5515 .- 1741-4326. ; 64:8
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The fusion reaction between deuterium and tritium, D(T,n)4 He is the main source of energy in future thermonuclear reactors. Alpha-particles (4 He-ions) born with an average energy of 3.5 MeV transferring energy to the thermal plasma during their slowing down, should provide the self-sustained D-T plasma burn. The adequate confinement of alpha-particles is essential to provide efficient heating of the bulk plasma and steady burning of a reactor plasma. That is why the fusion-born alpha-particle studies have been a priority task in the second D-T experiments (DTE2) on the Joint European Torus (JET) to understand the main mechanisms of their slowing down, redistribution and losses and to develop optimal plasma scenarios. JET with Be-wall and W-divertor, enhanced auxiliary heating systems and improved energetic-particle diagnostic capabilities, producing significant population of alpha-particles, provided the possibility for comprehensive studying of the alpha-particle behaviour. Selected results of the confined and lost alpha-particle measurements, evidence of alpha-particle self-heating and assessments of the fusion performance are presented in this paper giving an opportunity for further modelling and extrapolation to the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor and burning plasma reactors.
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| 9. |
- Moiseyenko, Volodymyr, et al.
(author)
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FUSION RESEARCH IN STELLARATOR DEPARTMENT OF IPP NSC KIPT
- 2022
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In: PROBLEMS OF ATOMIC SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY. - : Problems of Atomic Science and Technology. - 1562-6016. ; :6, s. 3-8, s. 3-8
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- This paper briefly describes intrinsic and collaborative scientific activities in the Stellarator Department of the Institute of Plasma Physics of the National Science Center "Kharkov Institute of Physics and Technology" in last two years. These activities include experiments on JET tokamak, stellarators Wendelstein 7-X and Uragan-2M, TOMAS toroidal device and theoretical studies related to modeling of radio-frequency fields in plasma and conceptual development of the stellarator-mirror fission-fusion hybrid.
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| 10. |
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