Effects of diamagnetic drift on nonlinear interaction between multi-helicity neoclassical tearing modes

A numerical study of the diamagnetic drift effect on the nonlinear interaction between multi-helicity neoclassical tearing modes(NTMs) is carried out using a set of four-field equations including two-fluid effects.The results show that,in contrast to the single-fluid case,5/3 NTM cannot be completely suppressed by 3/2 NTM with diamagnetic drift flow.Both modes exhibit oscillation and coexist in the saturated phase.To better understand the effect of the diamagnetic drift flow on multiple-helicity NTMs,the influence of typical relevant parameters is investigated.It is found that the average saturated magnetic island width increases with increasing bootstrap current fraction f_(b) but decreases with the ion skin depth δ.In addition,as the ratio of parallel to perpendicular transport coefficients χ_(‖)/χ_(⊥) increases,the average saturated magnetic island widths of the 3/2 and 5/3 NTMs increase.The underlying mechanisms behind these observations are discussed in detail.

Effects of counter-current driven by electron cyclotron waves on neoclassical tearing mode suppression

Through theoretical analysis,we construct a physical model that includes the influence of counter-external driven current opposite to the plasma current direction in the neoclassical tearing mode(NTM).The equation is used with this model to obtain the modified Rutherford equation with co-current and counter-current contributions.Consistent with the reported experimental results,numerical simulations have shown that the localized counter external current can only partially suppress NTM when it is far from the resonant magnetic surface.Under some circumstances,the Ohkawa mechanism dominated current drive(OKCD)by electron cyclotron waves can concurrently create both co-current and counter-current.In this instance,the minimal electron cyclotron wave power that suppresses a particular NTM was calculated by the Rutherford equation.The result is marginally less than when taking co-current alone into consideration.As a result,to suppress NTM using OKCD,one only needs to align the co-current with a greater OKCD peak well with the resonant magnetic surface.The effect of its lower counter-current does not need to be considered because the location of the counter-current deviates greatly from the resonant magnetic surface.

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.

A brief review:effects of resonant magnetic perturbation on classical and neoclassical tearing modes in tokamaks

This paper reviews the effects of resonant magnetic perturbation(RMP)on classical tearing modes(TMs)and neoclassical tearing modes(NTMs)from the theory,experimental discovery and numerical results with a focus on four major aspects:(i)mode mitigation,where the TM/NTM is totally suppressed or partly mitigated by the use of RMP;(ii)mode penetration,which means a linearly stable TM/NTM triggered by the externally applied RMP;(iii)mode locking,namely an existing rotating magnetic island braked and finally stopped by the RMP;(iv)mode unlocking,as the name suggests,it is the reverse of the mode locking process.The key mechanism and physical picture of above phenomena are revealed and summarized.

Suppression of Neoclassical Tearing Modes Towards Stationary High-Beta Plasmas in JT-60U

Results from stabilization of neoclassical tearing modes （NTMs） in JT-60U are described. NTM stabilization and confinement improvement have been demonstrated by employing a real-time NTM stabilization system, where the identification of the location of an NTM and the optimization of the injection angle of the electron cyclotron wave are performed in real time. Also, a high-beta plasma with the normalized beta of 3 has been sustained by suppressing NTM by applying the electron cyclotron current drive （ECCD） before the onset （＇preemptive ECCD＇）. In addition, a simulation code for analysis of the NTM evolution has been developed by combining the modified Rutherford equation with the transport code TOPICS. It is found that the simulation well reproduces the NTM behavior in JT-60U. The simulation also shows that the ECCD width is also important for NTM stabilization, and that the EC wave power for complete stabilization can be reduced by narrowing the ECCD profile.

Effects of plasma radiation on the nonlinear evolution of neo-classical tearing modes in tokamak plasmas with reversed magnetic shear

Effects of plasma radiation on the nonlinear evolution of neo-classical double tearing modes(NDTMs)in tokamak plasmas with reversed magnetic shear are numerically investigated based on a set of reduced magnetohydrodynamics(MHD)equations.Cases with different separations △_(rs)=|r_(s2)-r_(s1)|between the two same rational surfaces are considered.In the small △_(rs)cases,the plasma radiation destabilizes the NDTMs and makes the kinetic energy still grow gradually in the late nonlinear phase.Moreover,the NDTM harmonics with high mode numbers reach a high level in the presence of plasma radiation,forming a broad spectrum of MHD perturbations that induces a radially broadened region of MHD turbulence.As a result,the profiles of safety factors also enter a nonlinear oscillation phase.In the intermediate △_(rs)case,the plasma radiation can advance the explosive burst of kinetic energy that results from the fast driven reconnection between the two rational surfaces,because it can further promote the destabilizing effects of bootstrap current perturbation on the magnetic island near the outer rational surfaces.In the large △_(rs)case,through destabilizing the outer islands significantly,the plasma radiation can even induce the explosive burst in the reversed magnetic shear configuration where the burst cannot be induced in the absence of plasma radiation.

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.

Numerical analysis of the optimized performance of the electron cyclotron wave system in a HL-2M tokamak

The capabilities of current drive, neoclassical tearing mode （NTM） stabilization, and sawtooth control are analyzed for the electron-cyclotron wave （ECW） system in a HL-2M tokamak. Better performance of the upper launcher is demonstrated in comparison with that of a dropped upper launcher, in terms of JEc/Jbs for NTM stabilization and 1ECCD/（Aptor）2 for sawtooth control. 1-MW ECW power is enough for the 3/2 NTM stabilization, and 1.8-MW ECW power is required to suppress 2/1 NTM in a single null divertor equilibrium with 1.2-MA toroidal current with the upper launcher. Optimization simulation of electron-cyclotron current drive （ECCD） is carried out for three mirrors in an equatorial port, indicating that the middle mirror has a good performance compared with the top and bottom mirrors. The results for balanced co- and counter-ECCD in an equatorial port are also presented.