Mode structure symmetry breaking of reversed shear Alfvén eigenmodes and its impact on the generation of parallel velocity asymmetries in energetic particle distribution

In this work,the gyrokinetic eigenvalue code LIGKA,the drift-kinetic/MHD hybrid code HMGC and the gyrokinetic full-f code TRIMEG-GKX are employed to study the mode structure details of reversed shear Alfvén eigenmodes(RSAEs).Using the parameters from an ASDEXUpgrade plasma,a benchmark with the three different physical models for RSAE without and with energetic particles(EPs)is carried out.Reasonable agreement has been found for the mode frequency and the growth rate.Mode structure symmetry breaking(MSSB)is observed when EPs are included,due to the EPs’non-perturbative effects.It is found that the MSSB properties are featured by a finite radial wave phase velocity,and the linear mode structure can be well described by an analytical complex Gaussian expressionФ(s)=e^(-σ(s-s_(0))^(2))with complex parametersσand s_(0),where s is the normalized radial coordinate.The mode structure is distorted in opposite manners when the EP drive shifted from one side of qminto the other side,and specifically,a non-zero average radial wave number with opposite signs is generated.The initial EP density profiles and the corresponding mode structures have been used as the input of HAGIS code to study the EP transport.The parallel velocity of EPs is generated in opposite directions,due to different values of the average radial wave number,corresponding to different initial EP density profiles with EP drive shifted away from the qmin.

Locking of Tearing Modes by the Error Field

The locking of tearing modes by the error field is studied by nonlinear numerical modeling.The threshold of mode locking for J-TEXT tokamak plasmas is found.

Probe manipulators for Wendelstein 7-X and their interaction with the magnetic topology

Probe manipulators are a versatile addition to typical plasma edge diagnostics.Equipped with material samples they allow for detailed investigation of plasma–wall interaction processes,such as material erosion,deposition or impurity transport pathways.When combined with electrical probes,a study of scrape-off layer and plasma edge density,temperature and flow profiles as well as magnetic topologies is possible.A mid-plane manipulator is already in operation on Wendelstein 7-X.A system in the divertor region is currently under development.In the present paper we discuss the critical issue of heat and power loads,power redistribution and experimental access to the complex magnetic topology of Wendelstein 7-X.All the aforementioned aspects are of relevance for the design and operation of a probe manipulator in a device like Wendelstein？7-X.A focus is put on the topological region that is accessible for the different coil current configurations at Wendelstein 7-X and the power load on the manipulator with respect to the resulting different magnetic configurations.Qualitative analysis of power loads on plasma-facing components is performed using a numerical tracer particle diffusion tool provided via the Wendelstein 7-X Webservices.

Design of a variable frequency comb reflectometer system for the ASDEX Upgrade tokamak

Comb reflectometers offer the advantage of measuring several radial positions in plasma simultaneously.This allows for the investigation of fast timescales during L-H transitions,I-phases,I-mode bursts,transients during heat wave propagation,etc.A drawback of many present-day systems is that they use a fixed frequency difference between the probing frequencies.Hence,although the central probing frequency can be varied,the probing frequency difference is usually fixed.The new design presented in this work uses an advanced microwave generation and detection scheme,which allows for arbitrary probing frequencies and probing frequency separations.

Stabilization of Neoclassical Tearing Modes by rf Current

Neoclassical tearing mode (NTM) can degrade plasma confinement or even cause disruptions in existing tokamaks. Stabilization of the NTMs by radio frequency (rf) current is investigated by the modified Rutherford equation (MRE) in this paper. In a range of parameters, the required rf current for mode stabilization is obtained, which is linearly proportional to the bootstrap current density for both modulated current drive (MCD) and non-modulated current drive (NMCD), linearly (quadratically) to the radial width of the rf current for MCD (NMCD), and quadratically to the radial deviation of the rf current from the rational surface for both MCD and NMCD.

Analytical and Numerical Investigations of Probabilistic Monochromatic Problem

A probabilistic formalism, relying on Bayes’ theorem and linear Gaussian inversion, is adapted, so that a monochromatic problem can be investigated. The formalism enables an objective test in probabilistic terms of the quantities and model concepts involved in the problem at hand. With this formalism, an amplitude (linear parameter), a frequency (non-linear parameter) and a hyperparameter of the Gaussian amplitude prior are inferred jointly given simulated data sets with Gaussian noise contributions. For the amplitude, an analytical normal posterior follows which is conditional on the frequency and the hyperparameter. The remaining posterior estimates the frequency with an uncertainty of MHz, while the convolution of a standard approach would achieve an uncertainty of some GHz. This improvement in the estimation is investigated analytically and numerically, revealing for instance the positive effect of a high signal-to-noise ratio and/or a large number of data points. As a fixed choice of the hyperparameter imposes certain results on the amplitude and frequency, this parameter is estimated and, thus, tested for plausibility as well. From abstract point of view, the model posterior is investigated as well.