Effects of vacuum magnetic field region on the compact torus trajectory in a tokamak plasma

The trajectory of the compact torus(CT)within a tokamak discharge is crucial to fueling.In this study,we developed a penetration model with a vacuum magnetic field region to accurately determine CT trajectories in tokamak discharges.This model was used to calculate the trajectory and penetration parameters of CT injections by applying both perpendicular and tangential injection schemes in both HL-2A and ITER tokamaks.For perpendicular injection along the tokamak's major radius direction from the outboard,CTs with the same injection parameters exhibited a 0.08 reduction in relative penetration depth when injected into HL-2A and a 0.13reduction when injected into ITER geometry when considering the vacuum magnetic field region compared with cases where this region was not considered.In addition,we proposed an optimization method for determining the CT's initial injection velocity to accurately calculate the initial injection velocity of CTs for central fueling in tokamaks.Furthermore,this paper discusses schemes for the tangential injection of CT into tokamak discharges.The optimal injection angle and CT magnetic moment direction for injection into both HL-2A and ITER were determined through numerical simulations.Finally,the kinetic energy loss occurring when the CT penetrated the vacuum magnetic field region in ITER was reduced byΔEk=975.08 J by optimizing the injection angle for the CT injected into ITER.These results provide valuable insights for optimizing injection angles in fusion experiments.Our model closely represents actual experimental scenarios and can assist the design of CT parameters.

Polarimeter–interferometer diagnostic using terahertz solid-state sources for fluctuation measurements on Keda Torus e Xperiment(KTX)

A multi-channel polarimeter-interferometer has been developed on the Keda Torus eXperiment(KTX)for the study of equilibrium dynamics and internal magnetic fluctuations.A three-wave technique based on terahertz solid-state sources(-650 GHz)is applied for simultaneous measurements of electron density and Faraday rotation angle.The output power of the microwave source is 2 mW.Faraday rotation effect using a rotating wave plate is tested with phase noise less than 0.8°,and the density phase noise is less than 0.9°.Measurement of Faraday rotation angle and density for discharges on KTX have demonstrated high sensitivity to internal MHD activities.

Comparison of transport coefficients before and after density pump-out induced by resonant magnetic perturbation using a BOUT++ six-field model on the EAST tokamak

Many experiments have demonstrated that resonant magnetic perturbation(RMP) can affect the turbulent transport at the edge of the tokamak. Through the Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak(EAST) density modulation experiment, the particle transport coefficients were calculated using the experimental data, and the result shows that the particle transport coefficients increase with RMP. In this study, the six-field two-fluid model in BOUT++ is used to simulate the transport before and after density pump-out induced by RMP,respectively referred as the case without RMP and the case with RMP. In the linear simulations,the instabilities generally decreases for cases with RMP. In the nonlinear simulation, ELM only appears in the case without RMP. Additionally, the particle transport coefficient was analyzed,and the result shows that the particle transport coefficient becomes larger for the case with RMP,which is consistent with the experimental conclusion. Moreover, its magnitude is comparable to the results calculated from experimental data.

Comparison of methods for turbulence Doppler frequency shift calculation in Doppler reflectometer

The Doppler reflectometer(DR),a powerful diagnostic for the plasma perpendicular velocity(u⊥)and turbulence measurement,has been widely used in various fusion devices.Many efforts have been put into extracting the Doppler shift from the DR signal.There are several commonly used methods for Doppler shift extraction,such as the phase derivative,the center of gravity,and symmetric fitting(SFIT).However,the strong zero-order reflection component around 0 kHz may interfere with the calculation of the Doppler shift.To avoid the influence of the zerofrequency peak,the asymmetric fitting(AFIT)method was designed to calculate the Doppler shift.Nevertheless,the AFIT method may lead to an unacceptable error when the Doppler shift is relatively small compared to the half width at half maximum(HWHM).Therefore,an improved method,which can remove the zero-frequency peak and fit the remaining Doppler peak with a Gaussian function,is devised to extract the Doppler shift.This method can still work reliably whether the HWHM is larger than the Doppler shift or not.

Development of a compact torus injection system for the Keda Torus eXperiment

A compact torus injection system,KTX-CTI,has been developed for the planned injection experiments on the Keda Torus e Xperiment(KTX)reversed field pinch(RFP)device to investigate the physics and engineering issues associated with interaction between a compact torus(CT)and RFP.The key interests include fueling directly into the reactor center,confinement improvement,and the injection of momentum and helicity into the RFP discharges.The CT velocity and mass have been measured using a multichannel optical fiber interferometer,and for the first time the time evolution of the CT density profile during CT propagation is obtained.The effects of discharge parameters on the number of injected particles,CT velocity and CT density have been characterized:the maximum hydrogen CT plasma mass,m,CTis 50μg,corresponding to 30%of the mass in a typical KTX plasma;the CT velocity exceeds 120 km s-1.It is observed for the first time that multiple CTs can be produced and emitted during a very short period(<100μs)in one discharge,which is significant for the future study of repetitive CT injection,even with an ultra-high frequency.

Investigation of the compact torus plasma motion in the KTX-CTI device based on circuit analyses

Compact torus(CT)injection is one of the most promising methods for the central fuelling of next-generation reactor-grade fusion devices due to its high density,high velocity,and selfcontained magnetised structure.A newly compact torus injector(CTI)device in Keda Torus e Xperiment(KTX),named KTX-CTI,was successfully developed and tested at the University of Science and Technology in China.In this study,first,we briefly introduce the basic principles and structure of KTX-CTI,and then,present an accurate circuit model that relies on nonlinear regression analysis(NRA)for studying the current waveform of the formation region.The current waveform,displacement,and velocity of CT plasma in the acceleration region are calculated using this NRA-based one-dimensional point model.The model results were in good agreement with the experiments.The next-step upgrading reference scheme of the KTX-CTI device is preliminarily investigated using this NRA-based point model.This research can provide insights for the development of experiments and future upgrades of the device.

Design of the poloidal field system for KTX

The design of the poloidal field （PF） system includes the ohmic heating field system and the equilibrium （EQ） field system, and is the basis for the design of a magnetic confinement fusion device. A coupling between the poloidal and plasma currents, especially the eddy current in the stabilizing shell, yields design difficulties. The effects of the eddy current in the stabilizing shell on the poloidal magnetic field also cannot be ignored. A new PF system design is thus proposed. By using a low-μ material （μ = 0.001, ε = 1） instead of a conductive shell, an electromagnetic model is established that can provide a continuous eddy current distribution on the conductive shell. In this model, a 3D time-domain problem with shells translates into a 2D magnetostatic problem, and the accuracy of the calculation is improved. Based on these current distributions, we design the PF system and analyze how the EQ coils and conductive shell affect the plasma EQ when the plasma ramps up. To meet the mainframe design requirements and achieve an efficient power-supply design, the position and connection of the poloidal coils are optimized further.

Bench test of interferometer measurement for the Keda Reconnection eXperiment device(KRX)

Motivated by the need of the electron density measurement for the Keda Reconnection eXperiment(KRX)facility which is under development,an interferometer system has been designed and tested in bench.The 320 GHz solid-state microwave source with 1 mm wavelength is used to fulfill the high phase difference measurement in such low temperature plasma device.The results of the bench test show that the phase difference is accurately measured.In contrast to tens of degrees of phase shift expected to be measured on the KRX,the system noise(~1°)is low enough for the KRX diagnostics.In order to optimize the system for better performance,we utilize the Terasense sub-THz imaging system to adjust alignment.The interferometer system has also been calibrated via changing of the optical path length controlled by the piezo inertial motor.Simultaneously,high density polyethylene thin film is introduced successfully to change a tiny phase difference and test the sensitivity of the interferometer system.

Fast radial scanning probe system on KTX

A fast radial scanning probe system was constructed for the Keda Torus eXperiment(KTX)to measure the profiles of boundary plasma parameters such as floating potential,electron density,temperature,transport fluxes,etc.The scanning probe system is driven by slow and fast motion mechanisms,corresponding to the stand-by movement of a stepping motor and the fast scanning movement of a high-torque servo-motor,respectively.In fast scanning,the scanner drives the probe radially up to 20 cm at a maximum velocity of 4.0 m s-1.A noncontact magnetic grating ruler with a high spatial resolution of 5μm is used for the displacement measurement.New scanning probe can reach the center of plasmas rapidly.The comparison of plasma floating potential profiles obtained by a fixed radial rake probe and the single scanning probe suggests that the high-speed scanning probe system is reliable for measuring edge plasma parameter profiles on the KTX device.

The investigation of quasi coherent mode on EAST using Doppler reflectometry

An electrostatic Quasi coherent mode has been observed in density fluctuations and perpendicular velocity fluctuations with the frequency range of 3–80 k Hz on the Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak using multi-channel Doppler reflectometry.It appears in the edge localized mode(ELM)-free period after L-H transition or in the inter-ELM period.The mode rotates almost together with the plasma with the poloidal wave number around 0.6cm-1 and its frequency chirps with plasma poloidal velocity.The mode can exist in a large radial coverage(ρ=0.75–0.98),and peaks near the top of pedestal,suggesting that it might be excited in the steep gradient pedestal region,and spread into the core area.