Investigation of electron cyclotron wave absorption and current drive in CFETR hybrid scenario plasmas

The investigation of electron cyclotron(EC)wave absorption and current drive has been performed for the China Fusion Engineering Test Reactor(CFETR)hybrid scenarios using the TORAY code.To achieve the physics goal of the EC system in CFETR,a total of four wave frequency values and nine locations of launching antennas have been considered,and the injection poloidal and toroidal angles have been scanned systematically.The electron cyclotron current drive(ECCD)efficiency of the 170 GHz EC system is quite low due to the wave-particle interactions being located at the low-field side.To optimize the ECCD efficiency,the wave frequency is increased up to 221–250 GHz,which leads to the power being deposited at the high-field side.The off-axis ECCD efficiency can be significantly enhanced by launching EC waves from the top window and injecting them towards the high-field side.The optimized ECCD efficiency atρ=0.32 and atρ=0.4 is 2.9 and 2.2 times that of 170 GHz,respectively.

Optimization of X-mode electron cyclotron current drive in high-electron-temperature plasma in the EAST tokamak

A discharge with electron temperature up to 14 keV has been achieved in EAST.Analysis of the electron cyclotron current drive(ECCD)efficiency at high electron temperature under EAST parameters is presented using C3PO/LUKE code.Simulation results show that the ECCD efficiency of X-mode increases with central electron temperature up to 10 keV and then starts to decrease above 10 keV,at a specific magnetic field and toroidal angle.The efficiency degradation is due to the presence of the third harmonic extraordinary(X3)downshifted absorption at the low field side(LFS);even the cold resonance of X3 mode is located outside the plasma.As the electron temperature increases from 5 to 20 ke V,the X3 absorption increases from 0.9%to 96.4%.The trapping electron effect at the LFS produces a reverse Ohkawa current.The competition between the Fisch–Boozer current drive and the Ohkawa current drive results in a decrease in ECCD efficiency.ECCD efficiency optimization is achieved through two methods.One is to increase the toroidal angle,leading to X2 mode predominating again over X3 mode and the electron resonance domain of X2 mode moving far from the trapped/passing boundary.The second one is to increase the magnetic field to move away the X3 resonance layer from the plasma,hence less EC power absorbed by X3 mode.

Design and Simulation for the Pulse High-Voltage DC Power Supply (HVPS) of 1.2 MW/2.45 GHz HT-7U Lower Hybrid Current Drive System

The superconducting tokamak HT-7U [1] has been designed by the Institute of Plasma Physics since 1998 and will be set up before 2003. The 1.2 MW /2.45 GHz HT-7U LHCD (Lower hybrid current drive) system which being the most efficient non-induction device can heat the plasma and drive the plasma current has been efficiently in operation 'owl and a particular design of the 2.8 MW/-35 kV high-voltage DC power supply has been already completed and will apply to the klystron of LHCD on HT-7 and the future HT-7U, and the project of the power supply has been examined and approved professionally by an authorized group of high-level specialist in the institute of Plasma Physics. The detailed design of the power supply and the simulation results are referred in the paper.

Optimized calculation of the synergy conditions between electron cyclotron current drive and lower hybrid current drive on EAST

The optimized synergy conditions between electron cyclotron current drive （ECCD） and lower hybrid current drive （LHCD） with normal parameters of the EAST tokamak are studied by using the C3PO/LUKE code based on the under- standing of the synergy mechanisms so as to obtain a higher synergistic current and provide theoretical reference for the synergistic effect in the EAST experiment. The dependences of the synergistic effect on the parameters of two waves （lower hybrid wave （LHW） and electron cyclotron wave （ECW））, including the radial position of the power deposition, the power value of the LH and EC waves, and the parallel refractive indices of the LHW （Nr） are oresented and discussed.

Experimental Research on Lower Hybrid Current Drive in Superconducting Tokamak HT-7

?Fundamental experiments on lower hybrid current drive (LHCD) have been undertaken on HT-7 superconducting tokamak. The experiments on LHCD efficiency reveal its depen- deuce on plasma density and the toroidal magnetic field. Furthermore, the experiments on HT-7 successfully demonstrate the ability for LHCD to sustain long pulse tokamak discharges, such as discharges with full non-inductive current drive for several seconds. The experimental study to improve plasma confinements by LHCD suggests that the improvement should be due to the change o f current profile. It has also been demonstrated by the experiments that the lower hybrid wave may lead to an enhanced ionization of particles in the region where the wave is deposited.

Effects of drive current rise-time and initial load density distribution on Z-pinch characteristics

A two-dimensional, three-temperature radiation magneto-hydrodynamics model is applied to the investigation of evolutional trends in x-ray radiation power, energy, peak plasma temperature and density as functions of drive current rise-time and initial load density distribution by using the typical experimental parameters of tungsten wire-array Z- pinch on the Qiangguang-I generator. The numerical results show that as the drive current rise-time is shortened, x-ray radiation peak power, energy, peak plasma density and peak ion temperature increase approximately linearly, but among them the x-ray radiation peak power increases more quickly. As the initial plasma density distribution in the radial direction becomes gradually flattened, the peak radiation power and the peak ion-temperature almost exponentially increase, while the radiation energy and the peak plasma density change only a little. The main effect of shortening drive current rise-time is to enhance compression of plasma, and the effect of flattening initial load density distribution in the radial direction is to raise the plasma temperature. Both of the approaches elevate the x-ray peak radiation power

Effect of Wave Accessibility on Lower Hybrid Wave Current Drive in Experimental Advanced Superconductor Tokamak with H-Mode Operation

The effect of the wave accessibility condition on the lower hybrid cm＇rent drive in the experimental advanced superconductor Tokamak （EAST） plasma with H-mode operation is studied. Based on a simplified model, a mode conversion layer of the lower hybrid wave between the fast wave branch and the slow wave branch is proved to exist in the plasma periphery for typical EAST H-mode parameters. Under the framework of the lower hybrid wave simulation code （LSC）, the wave ray trajectory and the associated current drive are calculated numerically. The results show that the wave accessibility condition plays an important role on the lower hybrid current drive in EAST plasma. For wave rays with parallel refractive index n｜｜= 2.1 or n｜｜ = 2.5 launched from the outside midplane, the wave rays may penetrate the core plasma due to the toroida] geometry effect, while numerous reflections of the wave ray trajectories in the plasma periphery occur. However, low current drive efficiency is obtained. Meanwhile, the wave accessibility condition is improved if a higher confined magnetic field is applied. The simulation results show that for plasma parameters under present EAST H-mode operation, a significant lower hybrid wave current drive could be obtained for the wave spectrum with peak value n｜｜ = 2.1 if a toroidal magnetic field BT =2.5 T is applied.

Neoclassical tearing mode stabilization by electron cyclotron current drive for HL-2M tokamak

Investigation of neoclassical tearing mode and its suppression by electron cyclotron current drive(ECCD)has been carried out in HL-2 M tokamak.The current driving capability of the electron cyclotron wave is evaluated.It is found that the deposition location can be effectively controlled by changing the poloidal angle.The validation of electron cyclotron wave heating and current driving has been demonstrated for the upper launcher port.We show that 3.0 MW and2.5 MW modulated ECCD can completely stabilize(2,1)and(3,2)NTMs,respectively.The non-modulated ECCD,radial misalignment as well as current profile broadening have deleterious effect on the NTM stabilization.The time required for suppression of(3,2)mode is shorter than that required for the suppression of(2,1)mode.Moreover,the time needed for complete stabilization at different initial island width has been quantitatively presented and analyzed.

Numerical simulation of electron cyclotron current drive characteristics on EAST

Electron cyclotron current drive （ECCD） will be applied in the EAST tokamak during its the new campaign. In order to provide theoretical predictions for relevant physical experiments, some numerical simulations of ECCD with the parameters of EAST have been can＇ied out by using TORAY-GA code based on the understanding of ECCD mechanisms. ECCD efficiencies achieved in different plasma and electron cyclotron （EC） wave parameters are given. The dependences of ECCD characteristics on EC wave injection angle, toroidal magnetic field, plasma density, and temperature are presented and discussed.

Study of the fast electron behavior in electron cyclotron current driven plasma on J-TEXT

In J-TEXT tokamak,fast electron bremsstrahlung diagnostic with 9 chords equipped with multichannel analyzer enables detailed studies of the generation and transport of fast electrons.The spatial profiles and energy spectrum of the fast electrons have been measured in two ECCD cases with either on-axis or off-axis injection,and the profiles processed by Abel-inversion are consistent with the calculated power deposition locations.Moreover,it is observed that the energy of fast electrons increases rapidly after turning off the ECCD,which may be attributed to the acceleration by the recovered loop voltage at low electron density.

A Simulation of the Effect of Collisional Dissipation of Fast Electrons on the Radial Profiles of the Current Driven by Lower-Hybrid-Waves on the HT-7 Tokamak

For the effect of the collisional dissipation of fast electrons driven by the lower-hybrid waves, a predictive simulation is made for the HT-7 plasma. The simulation results show that the dissipation of fast electrons counteracts the effect of radial diffusion to some extent, thereby making the lower-hybrid driven current profile closer to the power deposition profile. So, in the case of an off-axis lower-hybrid wave power launching, the dissipation is helpful in maintaining a center-hollowed current profile in lower hybrid current drive （LHCD） plasmas, and thus possibly maintains the desired reversed magnetic shear.

Modeling of the influences of multiple modulated electron cyclotron current drive on NTMs in rotating plasma

In this work, physical models of neoclassical tearing modes （NTMs） including bootstrap current and multiple modulated electron cyclotron current drive model are applied. Based on the specific physical problems during the suppression of NTMs by driven current, this work compares the efficiency of continuous and modulated driven currents, and simulates the physical processes of multiple modulated driven currents on suppressing rotating magnetic island. It is found that when island rotates along the poloidal direction, the suppression ability of continuous driven current can be massively reduced due to current deposition outside the island separatrix and reverse deposition direction at the X point, which can be avoided by current drive modulation. Multiple current drive has a better suppressing effect than single current drive. This work gives realistic numerical simulations by optimizing the model and parameters based on the experiments, which could provide references for successful suppression of NTMs in future advanced tokamak such as international thermonuclear experimental reactor.

Investigation of lower hybrid current drive during H-mode in EAST tokamak

H-mode discharges with lower hybrid current drive （LHCD） alone are achieved in EAST divertor plasma over a wide parameter range. These H-mode discharges are characterized by a sudden drop in Da emission and a spontaneous rise in main plasma density. Good lower hybrid （LH） coupling during H-mode is obtained by putting the plasma close to the antenna and by injecting D2 gas from a pipe near the grill mouse. The analysis of lower hybrid current drive properties shows that the LH deposition profile shifts off axis during H-mode, and current drive （CD） efficiency decreases due to the increase in density. Modeling results of H-mode discharges with a general ray trueing code GENRAY are reported.

Investigation of electron cyclotron current drive efficiency on the J-TEXT tokamak

Electron cyclotron current drive(ECCD) efficiency research is of great importance for the neoclassical tearing mode(NTM) stabilization.Improving ECCD efficiency is beneficial for the NTM stabilization and the ECCD power threshold reduction.ECCD efficiency has been investigated on the J-TEXT tokamak.The electron cyclotron wave(ECW) power scan was performed to obtain the current drive efficiency.The current drive efficiency is derived to be approximately η_(0)=(0.06-0.16)×10^(19)A m^(-2)W^(-1)on the J-TEXT tokamak.The effect of the residual toroidal electric field has been included in the determination of the current drive efficiency,which will enhance the ECCD efficiency.At the plasma current of I_(p)=100 kA and electron density of n_(e)=1.5×10^(19)m^(-3),the ratio of Spitzer conductivity between omhic(OH)and ECCD phases is considered and the experimental data have been corrected.The correction results show that the current drive efficiency η_(1)caused by the fast electron hot conductivity decreases by approximately 79%.It can be estimated that the driven current is approximately 24 kA at 300 kW ECW power.

Impact of Toroidal Effect on Lower Hybrid Current Drive in Tokamak

The main topics concerning lower hybrid wave heating （LHH） and lower hybrid current drive （LHCD） in tokamak systems are presented. The inherent properties of tokamak systems give the ‘gap＇ filling on Brambilla＇s spectrum, which are conducive to LHCD, but, on the other hand, induce a consumption of wave energy by the trapped electrons, which reduce the current drive efficiency. The methods for the enhancement of the current drive efficiency may be derived from detailed analyses by drawing upon the ray tracing technology on toroidal geometry and the Fokker-Planck theory on velocity space.

A Study of Energy Conversion Efficiency Versus Plasma Density by Lower Hybrid Current Drive in HT-7 Tokamak

Ramp-up experiments by means of lower hybrid wave on HT-7 superconducting tokamak have been performed and analyzed. A ramp-up rate of over 300 kA/s is obtained and a conversion efficiency of over 1.0% has been achieved during the ramp-up phase. The study of the dependence of conversion efficiency on plasma density shows that the conversion efficiency is affected by the driven current, which is mainly dominated by the competition of impurity concentration with wave accessibility condition. In addition, the effect of current profile may play an important role in determining the conversion efficiency.

Analysis of Charge-Exchange Spectrum during Lower Hybrid Current Drive on HT-7 Tokamak

A perpendicular neutral particle analyzer (NPA) is used on HT-7 tokamak experiment to provide the measurements of neutral particle flux and ion temperature. The measured results were compared with calculated data by Monte-carlo method for ohmic heating. In lower hybrid current drive (LHCD) experiments, the ion heating of LHCD was identified. The chargeexchange neutral particle flux enhanced was observed. The energy spectrum clearly showed a high-energy ions tail. The bulk ion temperature increased by 0.4-0.5 keV after the onset of LHCD. Efficient ion heating of 1 eV. kW-1 was obtained.

Effects of trapped electrons on off-axis lower hybrid current drive in tokamaks

The effects of trapped electrons on off-axis lower hybrid current drive （LHCD） in tokamaks are studied, A computer code for solving the Fokker-Planck equation in a toroidal geometry is developed and employed. The code is suitable for various auxiliary heating and current drive schemes in tokamak plasmas. The influence of the resonance regime on the current drive efficiency as well as the influence of trapped particle fraction on the current drive efficiency are emphasized. It is shown that, as an electrostatic force, the lower hybrid wave causes some of the trapped electrons to be untrapped and lose their energy, which can cut the LHCD efficiency by about 30%. The ITER scaling law is also used to estimate the trapped electron effects.

Toroidal rotation induced by 4.6 GHz lower hybrid current drive on EAST tokamak

Using a tangentially viewing x-ray imaging crystal spectrometer, substantial co-current rotation driven by lower hybrid current drive（LHCD） at 4.6 GHz is observed on EAST tokamak. This study presents plasma rotation behaviors with 4.6 GHz LHCD injection. Typically, the 10-20 km/s co-current rotation change and the transport of rotation velocity from edge to core are observed. The relationship between plasma parameters and rotation is also investigated, indicating that rotation decreases with increasing internal inductance（li） and increases with increasing safety factor（q0）. Hysteresis between rotation and Te plasma stored energy is observed, suggesting different response times between the electron heating and rotation acceleration by LHCD. A comparison between the rotations driven by 4.6 G LHCD and 2.45 G LHCD on EAST is also presented, in which higher frequency LHCD could induce more rotation changes.

Effects of Trapped Electrons on Off-axis Lower Hybrid Current Drive

The effects of trapped electrons on off-axis lower hybrid current drive （LHCD） in tokamaks are studied. The influence of the resonance regime on the current drive efficiency as well as the influence of trapped particle fraction on the current drive efficiency are emphasized.