磁约束聚变方案中的磁镜、场反及偶极场位形研究进展

随着高温超导技术的日趋成熟,中小型磁约束装置的优势日渐明显。与大型托卡马克相比,偶极场、场反位形和磁镜等装置的结构相对简单,建造和维护成本较低,且更易实现能维持高等离子体压强的磁场位形,这意味着在低磁场下能实现更好的等离子体约束。此外,这些装置在物理原理上具有各自独特的优势,如磁镜装置具有开放的磁场位形和相对简单的结构设计,能支持灵活多样的实验并保持相对稳态运行;场反位形(FRC)装置的极高β值(β为等离子体压强与磁压之比)使得基于FRC的聚变装置在工程上更可行;偶极场装置因其类似地球磁场位形,具有天然良好的磁流体稳定性,有助于维持等离子体的约束。本文重点介绍了磁约束聚变方案中的磁镜、场反位形及偶极场的研究历史、技术进展和未来发展方向,阐述了这3类装置在聚变能研究中的重要性及面临的挑战。此类装置的小型化和经济性也使其在商业化方面更具潜力,能更灵活地进行技术调整和技术创新融合,吸引更多商业资本投入,加速聚变能的实现。

Laboratory observation of electron energy distribution near three-dimensional magnetic nulls

The acceleration of electrons near three-dimensional(3D)magnetic nulls is crucial to the energy conversion mechanism in the 3D magnetic reconnection process.To explore electron acceleration in a 3D magnetic null topology,we constructed a pair of 3D magnetic nulls in the PKU Plasma Test(PPT)device and observed acceleration of electrons near magnetic nulls.This study measured the plasma floating potential and ion density profiles around the 3D magnetic null.The potential wells near nulls may be related to the energy variations of electrons,so we measured the electron distribution functions(EDFs)at different spatial positions.The axial variation of EDF shows that the electrons deviate from the Maxwell distribution near magnetic nulls.With scanning probes that can directionally measure and theoretically analyze based on curve fitting,the variations of EDFs are linked to the changes of plasma potential under 3D magnetic null topology.The kinetic energy of electrons accelerated by the electric field is 6 eV(v_(e)~7v_(Alfvén-e))and the scale of the region where accelerating electrons exist is in the order of serval electron skin depths.

Reconstruction of poloidal magnetic field profiles in field-reversed configurations with machine learning in laser-driven ion-beam trace probe

The diagnostic of poloidal magnetic field(B_(p))in field-reversed configuration(FRC),promising for achieving efficient plasma confinement due to its highβ,is a huge challenge because B_(p)is small and reverses around the core region.The laser-driven ion-beam trace probe(LITP)has been proven to diagnose the B_(p)profile in FRCs recently,whereas the existing iterative reconstruction approach cannot handle the measurement errors well.In this work,the machine learning approach,a fast-growing and powerful technology in automation and control,is applied to B_(p)reconstruction in FRCs based on LITP principles and it has a better performance than the previous approach.The machine learning approach achieves a more accurate reconstruction of B_(p)profile when 20%detector errors are considered,15%B_(p)fluctuation is introduced and the size of the detector is remarkably reduced.Therefore,machine learning could be a powerful support for LITP diagnosis of the magnetic field in magnetic confinement fusion devices.

Inward particle transport driven by biased endplate in a cylindrical magnetized plasma

The inward particle transport is associated with the formation of peaked density profiles,which contributes to improve the fusion rate and the realization of steady-state discharge.The active control of inward particle transport is considered as one of the most critical issues of magnetic confinement fusion.Recently,it is realized preliminarily by adding a biased endplate in the Peking University Plasma Test(PPT)device.The results reveal that the inward particle flux increases with the bias voltage of the endplate.It is also found that the profile of radial electric field(Er)shear is flattened by the increased bias voltage.Radial velocity fluctuations affect the inward particle more than density fluctuations,and the frequency of the dominant mode driving inward particle flux increases with the biased voltage applied to the endplate.The experimental results in the PPT device provide a method to actively control the inward particle flux using a biased endplate and enrich the understanding of the relationship between E_(r)×B shear and turbulence transport.

Poloidal magnetic field reconstruction by laser-driven ion-beam trace probe in spherical tokamak

The poloidal magnetic field( B_(p)) plays a critical role in plasma equilibrium, confinement and transport of magnetic confinement devices. Multiple diagnostic methods are needed to complement each other to obtain a more accurate B_(p) profile. Recently, the laser-driven ion-beam trace probe(LITP) has been proposed as a promising tool for diagnosing B_(p) and radial electric field( E_(r)) profiles in tokamaks [Yang X Y et al 2014 Rev. Sci. Instrum. 85 11E429]. The spherical tokamak(ST) is a promising compact device with high plasma beta and naturally large elongation. However, when applying LITP to diagnosing B_(p) in STs, the larger B_(p) invalidates the linear reconstruction relationship for conventional tokamaks, necessitating the development of a nonlinear reconstruction principle tailored to STs. This novel approach employs an iterative reconstruction method based on Newton's method to solve the nonlinear equation. Subsequently,a simulation model to reconstruct the B_(p) profile of STs is developed and the experimental setup of LITP is designed for EXL-50, a middle-sized ST. Simulation results of the reconstruction show that the relative errors of B_(p) reconstruction are mostly below 5%. Moreover, even with 5 mm measurement error on beam traces or 1 cm flux surface shape error, the average relative error of reconstruction remains below 15%, initially demonstrating the robustness of LITP in diagnosing B_(p) profiles in STs.

Relationship of mode transitions and standing waves in helicon plasmas

Helicon wave plasma sources have the well-known advantages of high efficiency and high plasma density, with broad applications in many areas. The crucial mechanism lies with mode transitions, which has been an outstanding issue for years. We have built a fluid simulation model and further developed the Peking University Helicon Discharge code. The mode transitions, also known as density jumps, of a single-loop antenna discharge are reproduced in simulations for the first time. It is found that large-amplitude standing helicon waves(SHWs) are responsible for the mode transitions, similar to those of a resonant cavity for laser generation.This paper intends to give a complete and quantitative SHW resonance theory to explain the relationship of the mode transitions and the SHWs. The SHW resonance theory reasonably explains several key questions in helicon plasmas, such as mode transition and efficient power absorption, and helps to improve future plasma generation methods.

Experimental observation of the transport induced by ion Bernstein waves near the separatrix of magnetic nulls

The waves in a magnetic null could play important roles during 3D magnetic reconnection.Some preliminary clues in this paper show that the ion Bernstein wave(IBW)may be closely related to transport process in magnetic null region.The magnetic null configuration experiment reported here is set up in a linear helicon plasma device,Peking University plasma test device(PPT).The wave modes with frequencies between the first and third harmonics of local ion cyclotron frequency(w_(ci))are observed in the separatrix of magnetic null,which are identified as the IBW based on the dispersion relation.Further analysis shows that IBW could drive substantial particle flux across the magnetic separatrix.The theoretical radial particle flux driven by IBW and the measured parallel flow in PPT device are almost on the same order,which shows that IBW may play an important role during 3D reconnection process.