Study on plasma sheath and plasma transport properties in the azimuthator

A physical model of transport in an azimuthator channel with the sheath effect resulting from the interaction between the plasma and insulation wall is established in this paper. Particle in cell simulation is carried out by the model and results show that, besides the transport due to classical and Bohm diffusions, the sheath effect can significantly influences the transport in the channel.As a result, the ion density is larger than the electron density at the exit of azimuthator, and the non-neutral plasma jet is divergent, which is unfavorable for mass separation. Then, in order to improve performance of the azimuthator, a cathode is designed to emit electrons. Experiment results have demonstrated that the auxiliary cathode can obviously compensate the space charge in the plasma.

Influence of the X-point location on edge plasma transport in the J-TEXT tokamak with a high-field-side single-null divertor

High-density experiments in the high-field-side mid-plane single-null divertor configuration have been performed for the first time on J-TEXT.The experiments show an increase in the highest central channel line-averaged density from 2.73×10^(19)m^(-3) to 6.49×10^(19)m^(-3),while the X-point moves away from the target by increasing the divertor coil current.The corresponding Greenwald fraction rises from 0.50 to 0.79.For the impurity transport,the density normalized radiation intensity(absolute extreme ultraviolet and soft x-ray)of the central channel density decreased significantly(>50%)with an increase in the plasma density.To better understand the underlying physics mechanisms,the 3 D edge Monte Carlo code coupled with EIRENE(EMC3-EIRENE)has been implemented for the first time on J-TEXT.The simulation results show good agreement with the experimental findings.As the X-point moves away from the target,the divertor power decay length drops and the scrape-off layer impurity screening effect is enhanced.

Unified gas-kinetic wave-particle methods IV: multi-species gas mixture and plasma transport

In this paper,we extend the unified gas-kinetic wave-particle(UGKWP)methods to the multi-species gas mixture and multiscale plasma transport.The construction of the scheme is based on the direct modeling on the mesh size and time step scales,and the local cell’s Knudsen number determines the flow physics.The proposed scheme has the multiscale and asymptotic complexity diminishing properties.The multiscale property means that according to the cell’s Knudsen number the scheme can capture the non-equilibrium flow physics when the cell size is on the kinetic mean free path scale,and preserve the asymptotic Euler,Navier-Stokes,and magnetohydrodynamics(MHD)when the cell size is on the hydrodynamic scale and is much larger than the particle mean free path.The asymptotic complexity diminishing property means that the total degrees of freedom of the scheme reduce automatically with the decreasing of the cell’s Knudsen number.In the continuum regime,the scheme automatically degenerates from a kinetic solver to a hydrodynamic solver.In the UGKWP,the evolution of microscopic velocity distribution is coupled with the evolution of macroscopic variables,and the particle evolution as well as the macroscopic fluxes is modeled from a time accumulating solution of kinetic scale particle transport and collision up to a time step scale.For plasma transport,the current scheme provides a smooth transition from particle-in-cell(PIC)method in the rarefied regime to the magnetohydrodynamic solver in the continuum regime.In the continuum limit,the cell size and time step of the UGKWP method are not restricted by the particle mean free path and mean collision time.In the highly magnetized regime,the cell size and time step are not restricted by the Debye length and plasma cyclotron period.The multiscale and asymptotic complexity diminishing properties of the scheme are verified by numerical tests in multiple flow regimes.

Experiments and Studies of Edge Plasma Radial Transport and Confinement Property on the HL-1M Tokamak

This paper describes a Mach/Langmuir probe array with five pins and six pins, which can measure not only parallel flows and the flow perpendicular to the magnetic field but also the radial and the poloidal electric field E. arid E as well. Experimental measurements of the edge fluctuations, velocities of the toroidal, the poloidal flow and electric field have been carried out on both of SOL and the boundary region of HL-1M for Ohmic, biased H-mode, Lower Hybrid Current Drive (LHCD), Supersonic Molecular Beam Injection (MBI), Multi-shot Pellet Injection (MPI), Neutral Beam Injection (NBI), Ion Cyclotron Resonance Heating (ICRH) and Electric Cyclotron Resonance Heating (ECRH) discharges. The results show that the suppressions of the fluctuations are related to poloidal rotations produced by different discharge modes in the improved particle confinement property, simultaneously the change of the radial and poloidal electric field is generated and becomes more negative at the Tokamak plasma edge, and the sheared poloidal flow is related to the reduction in fluctuation level, and the poloidal velocity is mainly dominated by the E × B drift.

Thermodynamic and Transport Properties of Real Air Plasma in Wide Range of Temperature and Pressure

Air plasma has been widely applied in industrial manufacture. In this paper, both dry and humid air plasmas＇ thermodynamic and transport properties are calculated in temperature 300 100000 K and pressure 0.1-100 atm. To build a more precise model of real air plasma, over 70 species are considered for composition. Two different methods, the Gibbs free energy minimization method and the mass action law method, are used to deternfinate the composition of the air plasma in a different temperature range. For the transport coefficients, the simplified Chapman-Enskog method developed by Devoto has been applied using the most recent collision integrals. It is found that the presence of CO2 has almost no effect on the properties of air plasma. The influence of H2O can be ignored except in low pressure air plasma, in which the saturated vapor pressure is relatively high. The results will serve as credible inputs for computational simulation of air plasma.

Thermodynamic Properties and Transport Coefficients of Nitrogen,Hydrogen and Helium Plasma Mixed with Silver Vapor

Species composites of Ag-N2, Ag-H2 and Ag-He plasmas in the temperature range of 3,000-20,000 K and at 1 atmospheric pressure were calculated by using the minimization of Gibbs free energy. Thermodynamic properties and transport coefficients of nitrogen, hydrogen and helium plasmas mixed with a variety of silver vapor were then calculated based on the equilibrium composites and collision integral data. The calculation procedure was verified by comparing the results obtained in this paper with the published transport coefficients on the case of pure nitrogen plasma. The influences of the silver vapor concentration on composites, thermodynamic properties and transport coefficients were finally analyzed and summarized for all the three types of plasmas. Those physical properties were important for theoretical study and numerical calculation on arc plasma generated by silver-based electrodes in those gases in sealed electromagnetic relays and contacts.

Numerical investigation of non-local electron transport in laser-produced plasmas

Non-local electron transport in laser-produced plasmas under inertial confinement fusion （ICF） conditions is studied based on Fokker-Planck （FP） and hydrodynamic simulations. A comparison between the classical Spitzer-Harm （SH） transport model and non-local transport models has been made. The result shows that among those non-local models the Epperlein and Short （ES） model of heat flux is in reasonable agreement with the FP simulation in overdense region. However, the non-local models are invalid in the hot underdense plasmas. Hydrodynamic simulation is performed with the flux limiting model and the non-local model, separately. The simulation results show that in the underdense region of the laser-produced plasmas the temperature given by the flux limiting model is significantly higher than that given with the non-local model.

Spectroscopic Studies on Impurity Transport of Core and Edge Plasmas in LHD

Spectroscopic diagnostics have been extensively developed for studies of impurity and neutral particle transports at core and edge plasmas in LHD. Diagnostics of core plasmas are similar to a tokamak case, i.e., Zeff from visible bremsstrahlung, K-x-ray measurements from xray spectroscopy using Si（Li） detectors and a compact crystal spectrometer, and high-Z impurity diagnostics from VUV spectroscopy using a flat-field EUV spectrometer. A combination of impurity pellet injection and visible bremsstrahlung is an active tool for determination of the diffusion coeffici＇ent D and convective velocity V. Using this tool the spatial structures of D and V are obtained and discussed with a neoclassical effect. On the other hand, the spectroscopic method for edge diagnostics is considerably different from the tokamak case because of the existence of a thick ergodic layer in addition to the z-points necessarily included into the diagnostic chord view. In order to break this negative situation, Zeeman and polarization spectroscopy are adopted to LHD edge plasmas. As a result, 2-dimensional emission contours of HeI and Ha are successfully obtained. Laser absorption spectroscopy is tried to measure hydrogen neutrals directly. Radial profiles of edge impurities are also measured with a mirror-assembled 3 m VUV spectrometer. Recent results of and progress in LHD spectroscopy are briefly reviewed.

Influence of Silver Vapours on the Transport of Nitrogen Plasma Properties

Theoretical investigation of nitrogen-silver arc transport properties and an arc plasma model in stationary state have studied at low temperature i.e. between 3500 K and 13,000 K at atmospheric pressure. Results showed that the presence of small amounts of metal vapours, which have low ionization potential such as silver, modify the plasma characteristics. The solution of Elenbaas-Heller gives us some information about the effect of metal vapours emitted from electrode on the characteristics of the arc column. We concluded that a small fraction of metal vapours in the arc column modify the electric field, current and the axial temperature.

The theoretical evaluation of powders transportation in plasma transferred-arc space under coaxial powder feeding condition

The powders transportation in the plasma transferred-arc space during the coaxial powder-feeding surface depositing process was theoretical evaluated. The axial acceleration and velocity of various particles in the arc column were described. According to the results from theoretical calculations, it was found that: (1) The powder’s transporting velocity is much lower than the plasma fluid’s; (2) The powders axial transporting velocity presents “valley-shape distribution” along plasma arc column traverse section when surfacing current is greater than 100 A . When the arc current exceeding 100 A , the powders coming through the center field of arc column will transport slower than the powder through the outer-around field of arc column. It is in the field where the temperature is in the range of 9 000 K ～11 000 K that the particles can achieve its maximum axial acceleration in the argon plasma space. (3) For the given powder mass density, the smaller its size is, the greater its acceleration and the greater its averaged transporting velocity will be in the arc space; (4) For the given powder size, the greater its mass density is, the smaller its acceleration and averaged velocity will be in the arc space.

A general comparison between tokamak and stellarator plasmas

This paper generally compares the essential features between tokamaks and stellarators,based on previous review work individually made by authors on several specific topics,such as theories,bulk plasma transport and edge divertor physics,along with some recent results.It aims at summarizing the main results and conclusions with regard to the advantages and disadvantages in these two types of magnetic fusion devices.The comparison includes basic magnetic configurations,magnetohydrodynamic(MHD)instabilities,operational limits and disruptions,neoclassical and turbulent transport,confinement scaling and isotopic effects,plasma rotation,and edge and divertor physics.Finally,a concept of quasi-symmetric stellarators is briefly referred along with a comparison of future application for fusion reactors.

Investigation of radial heat conduction with 1D self-consistent model in helicon plasmas

A 1D radially self-consistent model in helicon plasmas has been established to investigate the influence of radial heat conduction on plasma transport and wave propagation.Two kinds of 1D radial fluid models,with and without considering heat conduction,have been developed to couple the 1D plasma-wave interaction model,and self-consistent solutions have been obtained.It is concluded that in the low magnetic field range the radial heat conduction plays a moderate role in the transport of helicon plasmas and the importance depends on the application of the helicon source.It influences the local energy balance leading to enhancement of the electron temperature in the bulk region and a decrease in plasma density.The power deposition in the plasma is mainly balanced by collisional processes and axial diffusion,whereas it is compensated by heat conduction in the bulk region and consumed near the boundary.The role of radial heat conduction in the large magnetic field regime becomes negligible and the two fluid models show consistency.The local power balance,especially near the wall,is improved when conductive heat is taken into account.

Norepinephrine transporter (NET) is expressed in cardiac sympathetic ganglia of adult rat

The sympathetic nervous system plays a cardinal role in regulating cardiac function through releasing the neurotransmitter norepinephrine (NE). In comparison with central nervous system, the molecular mechanism of NE uptake in myocardium is not clear. In present study, we proved that in rat the CNS type of NE transporter (NET) was also expressed in middle cervical-stellate ganglion complex (MC-SG complex) which is considered to control the activity of heart, but not expressed in myocardium. The results also showed that NET expression level in right ganglion was significantly higher than in the left, rendering the greater capacity of NE uptake in right ventricle, a fact which may contribute to the maintenance of right ventricular function under pathologic state.

A Fokker-Planck Code for Laser-Produced Plasmas

A Fokker-Planck code is developed based upon Epperlein＇s scheme to investigate laser-produced plasmas in relevance to inertial confinement fusion. The equations are integrated implicitly by time-splitting method. Three test problems are simulated to show the versatility of the code. The results are in good agreement with the existing simulations.

GABA transporter 1 transcriptional starting site exhibiting tissue specific difference

GABA transporter 1(GAT1) takes important roles in multiple physiological processes through the uptake and release of GABA, but the regulation of GAT1 gene expression in different tissues is rarely known. To address the question, first, 5’ Rapid amplification of cDNA end (RACE) was used to determine GAT1 transcriptional starting sites in neonatal mouse cerebral cortex and intestine, adult mouse brain and adult rat testis. The products of 5’RACE were confirmed by DNA sequencing. We found that the transcript of GAT1 in neonatal mouse cerebral cortex and adult mouse brain starts at the same site (inside of exon 1), while in mouse intestine, GAT1 starts transcription in intron 1, and in rat testis, the transcript of GAT1 has an additional untranslation exon to the 5’ direction.

Radial transport dynamics studies of SMBI with a newly developed TPSMBI code

In tokamak plasma fueling, supersonic molecule beam injection(SMBI) with a higher fueling efficiency and a deeper penetration depth than the traditional gas puffing method has been developed and widely applied to many tokamak devices.It is crucial to study the transport dynamics of SMBI to improve its fueling efficiency, especially in the high confinement regime. A new one-dimensional(1D) code of TPSMBI has also been developed recently based on a six-field SMBI model in cylindrical coordinate. It couples plasma density and heat radial transport equations together with neutral density transport equations for both molecules and atoms and momentum radial transport equations for molecules. The dominant particle collisional interactions between plasmas and neutrals, such as molecule dissociation, atom ionization and charge-exchange effects, are included in the model. The code is verified to be correct with analytical solutions and also benchmarked well with the trans-neut module of BOUT++ code. Time-dependent radial transport dynamics and mean profile evolution are studied during SMBI with the TPSMBI code in both slab and cylindrical coordinates. Along the SMBI path, plasma density increases due to particle fuelling, while plasma temperature decreases due to heat cooling. Being different from slab coordinate, the curvature effect leads to larger front densities of molecule and atom during SMBI in cylindrical coordinate simulation.

Thermochemical Nonequilibrium 2D Modeling of Nitrogen Inductively Coupled Plasma Flow

Two-dimensional（2D） numerical simulations of thermochemical nonequilibrium inductively coupled plasma（ICP） flows inside a 10-kW inductively coupled plasma wind tunnel（ICPWT） were carried out with nitrogen as the working gas.Compressible axisymmetric NavierStokes（N-S） equations coupled with magnetic vector potential equations were solved.A fourtemperature model including an improved electron-vibration relaxation time was used to model the internal energy exchange between electron and heavy particles.The third-order accuracy electron transport properties（3rd AETP） were applied to the simulations.A hybrid chemical kinetic model was adopted to model the chemical nonequilibrium process.The flow characteristics such as thermal nonequilibrium,inductive discharge,effects of Lorentz force were made clear through the present study.It was clarified that the thermal nonequilibrium model played an important role in properly predicting the temperature field.The prediction accuracy can be improved by applying the 3rd AETP to the simulation for this ICPWT.

Dynamical evolution of cross phase of edge fluctuations and transport bifurcation

The dynamical evolution of edge turbulence during a transport bifurcation is explored using a flux-driven nonlinear fluid model with a geometry relevant to the plasma edge region.The simulations show that the self-generated mean shear flows can dramatically modify the phase angle between turbulent fluctuations.The changes in phase differences and amplitudes of edge fluctuations give rise to the modifications of turbulent edge transport.The statistical properties of flux and fluctuations are also investigated before and after edge shear flow generation.

Study of Carbon Impurity Transport at SOL in EAST

Transport of carbon in the edge plasma of EAST with a heating power Pin of 8 MW is studied using DIVIMP code. The background plasmas for DIVIMP are taken from the results by using B2.5-Eirene code. For different plasma densities at the core-SOL interface and the different divertor operational regimes, namely low recycling, high recycling and detachment, the simulated results show that the impurity density in SOL is higher for the high recycling regime than that for the low recycling regime, while impurity density in SOL is lower for the detachment regime than that for both the low and high recycling regimes.

Particles Behavior in Quasi-Steady-State AC Plasmas on HT-7 Tokamak

A quasi-stationary alternating current （AC） operation assisted by lower hybrid waves （LHW） was achieved recently in HT-7. It is found that the particle confinement time of the positive current plasma is lower than that of the negative current plasma. The particle transport coefficients are investigated in AC plasmas by a gas puff modulation method. It is observed that the particle diffusion coefficient for the positive plasma current case is almost the same as that for the negative one, but the absolute value of inward pinch velocity for the positive current plasma is much lower than Vhat of the negative one. The result of the particle transport model study is in agreement with the experimental confinement study. The intensity of Hα emission and impurities emission of CⅢ, OII and OV for the negative current plasma are much lower than that for the positive current plasma. The radiation from Hα, OⅡ, CⅢ and ECE signals from the negative to the positive current phase showed less ionization and lower parameters than those from the positive to the negative one. The difference of particle transport and confinement in AC plasmas is not predicted by the current theory.