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198 records · Page 11

Design elements and first data from a new Doppler backscattering system on the MAST-U spherical tokamak

A new Doppler backscattering (DBS) system has been installed and tested on the MAST-U spherical tokamak. It utilizes eight simultaneous fixed frequency probe beams (32.5, 35, 37.5, 40, 42.5, 45, 47.5, and 50 GHz). These frequencies provide a range of radial positions from the edge plasma to the core depending on plasma conditions. The system utilizes a combination of novel features to provide remote control of the probed density wavenumber, the launched polarization (X vs O-mode), and the angle of the launched DBS to match the magnetic field pitch angle. The range of accessible density turbulence wavenumbers (kθ) is reasonably large with normalized wavenumbers kθρs ranging from ≤0.5 to 9 (ion sound gyroradius ρs = 1 cm). This wavenumber range is relevant to a variety of instabilities believed to be important in establishing plasma transport (e.g., ion temperature gradient, trapped electron, electron temperature gradient, micro-tearing, kinetic ballooning modes). The system is specifically designed to address the requirement of density fluctuation wavevector alignment which can significantly reduce the SNR if not accounted for.

Instruments & Instrumentation↗

Development and experimental qualification of novel disruption prevention techniques on DIII-D

Novel disruption prevention solutions spanning a range of control regimes are being developed and tested on DIII-D to enable ITER success. First, a new real-time control algorithm has been developed and tested for regulating nearness to stability limits and maintaining safety-margins. Its first application has been for reliable prevention of vertical displacement events (VDEs) by adjusting plasma elongation (κ) and the inner-gap between the plasma and inner-wall in response to real- time open-loop VDE growth rate (γ) estimators. VDEs were robustly prevented up to average open-loop growth rates of 800 rad/s with initial tunings, with only applying shape modification when near safety limits. Second, the disruption risk during fast, emergency shutdown after large tearing and locked modes can be significantly improved by transitioning to a limited topology during shutdown. More than 50% of emergency limited shutdowns after locked modes reach a final normalized current I_N < 0.3 before terminating, scaling to the 3 MA ITER requirement. Furthermore, this is in contrast to diverted shutdowns, the majority of which disrupt at I_N > 0.8. Despite improvements, these results highlight the critical importance of early prevention. Third, a novel emergency shut down method has been developed which excites instabilities to form a warm, helical core post-thermal quench. The current quench extends to ~100ms and avoids VDEs and runaway electron generation. Novel real-time machine learning disruption prediction has been integrated with the DIII-D proximity controller, and a real- time compatible multi-mode MHD spectroscopy technique has been developed. Results presented here were enabled by a focused effort, the Disruption Free Protocol, in DIII-D’s 2019-20 campaign to complement disruption prevention experiments with a large piggy-back program. In addition to testing novel techniques, it is estimated to have helped avoid 32 potential disruptions in piggyback operations with rapid, early shutdowns after large rotating n=1 or locked modes.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Development and experimental qualification of novel disruption prevention techniques on DIII-D

Novel disruption prevention solutions spanning a range of control regimes are being developed and tested on DIII-D to enable ITER success. First, a new real-time control algorithm has been developed and tested for regulating nearness to stability limits and maintaining safety-margins. Its first application has been for reliable prevention of vertical displacement events (VDEs) by adjusting plasma elongation (κ) and the inner-gap between the plasma and inner-wall in response to real- time open-loop VDE growth rate (γ) estimators. VDEs were robustly prevented up to average open-loop growth rates of 800 rad/s with initial tunings, with only applying shape modification when near safety limits. Second, the disruption risk during fast, emergency shutdown after large tearing and locked modes can be significantly improved by transitioning to a limited topology during shutdown. More than 50% of emergency limited shutdowns after locked modes reach a final normalized current I N < 0.3 before terminating, scaling to the 3 MA ITER requirement. This is in contrast to diverted shutdowns, the majority of which disrupt at I N > 0.8. Despite improvements, these results highlight the critical importance of early prevention. Third, a novel emergency shut down method has been developed which excites instabilities to form a warm, helical core post-thermal quench. The current quench extends to ~100ms and avoids VDEs and runaway electron generation. Novel real-time machine learning disruption prediction has been integrated with the DIII-D proximity controller, and a real- time compatible multi-mode MHD spectroscopy technique has been developed. Results presented here were enabled by a focused effort, the Disruption Free Protocol, in DIII-D’s 2019-20 campaign to complement disruption prevention experiments with a large piggy-back program. In addition to testing novel techniques, it is estimated to have helped avoid 32 potential disruptions in piggyback operations with rapid, early shutdowns after large rotating n=1 or locked modes.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Editorial for the 28th Workshop on Magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) Stability Control

This special issue contains four papers which were presented at the 28th Workshop on Magnetohydrodymanic (MHD) Stability Control. The workshop was held at Auburn University and on Zoom from 3–5 October 2024. Furthermore, this annual workshop covers the active and passive control of MHD instabilities such as kink, tearing and edge-localized modes in tokamaks, reversed field pinches, spherical tori or other magnetic confinement devices.

Yang, J. [Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPP↗

Low-Cost Exterior Window Attachments

We developed a prototype low-cost exterior window attachment (size 3’x4’) operated from interior costing less than $\$$30 (distributor’s cost), see Table 1. The mass production, in future, would be much cheaper. The slats do not operate to fully open the venetian blind. This design was specifically chosen to avoid client’s operating the venetian blind in a fully open mode as that would reduce wear-and-tear and also avoid human error of not bringing the blinds to their original closed position.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗

Neoclassical toroidal viscosity torque prediction via deep learning

GPECnet is a densely connected neural network that has been trained on GPEC data, to predict the plasma stability, neoclassical toroidal viscosity (NTV) torque, and optimized 3D coil current distributions for desired NTV torque profiles. Using NTV torque, driven by non-axisymmetric field perturbations in a tokamak, can be vital in optimizing pedestal performance by controlling the rotation profile in both the core, to ensure tearing stability, and the edge, to avoid edge localized modes (ELMs). The generalized perturbed equilibrium code (GPEC) software package can be used to calculate the plasma stability to 3D perturbations and the NTV torque profile generated by applied 3D magnetic fields. These calculations, however, involve complex integrations over space and energy distributions, which takes time to compute. Initially, GPECnet has been trained solely on data representative of the quiescent H-mode (QH) scenario, in which neutral beams are often balanced and toroidal rotation is low across the plasma profile. Lastly, this work provides the foundation for active control of the rotation shear using a combination of beams and 3D fields for robust and high performance QH mode operation.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

New millimeter-wave diagnostics to locally probe internal density and magnetic field fluctuations in National Spherical Torus Experiment-Upgrade (invited)

A set of new millimeter-wave diagnostics will deliver unique measurement capabilities for National Spherical Torus Experiment-Upgrade to address a variety of plasma instabilities believed to be important in determining thermal and particle transport, such as micro-tearing, global Alfvén eigenmodes, kinetic ballooning, trapped electron, and electron temperature gradient modes. These diagnostics include a new integrated intermediate-k Doppler backscattering (DBS) and cross-polarization scattering (CPS) system (four channels, 82.5–87 GHz) to measure density and magnetic fluctuations, respectively. The system can access reasonably large normalized wavenumbers k θ ρ s ranging from ≤0.5 to 15 (where ion sound gyroradius ρ s = 1 cm and k θ is the binormal density turbulence wavenumber). The system addresses the challenges for making useful DBS/CPS measurements with a remote control of launch polarization (X- or O-mode), probed wavenumber, polarization match of the launch beam with the edge magnetic field pitch angle, and beam steering of the launched beam for wave-vector alignment. In addition, a low-k DBS system consisting of eight fixed frequencies (34–52 GHz) and four tunable frequencies (55–75 GHz) for low-k density turbulence and fast ion physics will be located at a nearby port location. Finally, the combined systems cover the near LCFS and pedestal regions (34–52 GHz), the pedestal or mid-radius (50–75 GHz), and core plasmas (82.5–87 GHz).

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

Dissipation in the magnetic turbulence of reversed field pinch plasmas

Reversed field pinch plasmas are subject to tearing instability that creates a broad spectrum of magnetic fluctuations. The dominant fluctuations have poloidal and toroidal mode numbers (m,n) = (1,6 - 10) and can grow to 2 - 3% of the mean magnetic field. Through non-linear coupling this growth culminates in a strong reconnection event and broadening of the magnetic spectrum extending to the ion gyroradius scale. Multiple developments occur during the reconnection stage: ions and electrons are energized, magnetic fluctuation amplitudes increase, plasma flow is halted, and the toroidal magnetic flux increases in a sawtooth-like fashion as the RFP dynamo becomes stronger. Magnetic fluctuations are measured in the plasma edge at multiple radial locations from r/a = 0.75 to 0.96 to assess and characterize the magnetic turbulence. The measured spectrum perpendicular to the mean field, S(k ⊥ ), can be fit to a model spectrum consisting of power law and exponential component with one free parameter that characterizes dissipation. The measured dissipation is much larger than estimated from classical viscous or resistive dissipation, but it is consistent with a flow damping measurement of anomalous viscosity. The measurements show an evolution of the spectrum during which fluctuation power builds up in the smallest wavenumbers and cascades to the larger wavenumber due to the non-linear coupling between the linear (m,n) = (1, > 6) and the non-linear (m,n) = (0, 1) tearing mo

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

First observations of edge instabilities in strongly shaped negative triangularity plasmas on DIII-D

Throughout the 2023 DIII-D negative triangularity (NT) campaign, unexpected magnetic fluctuations indicative of an edge localized instability were observed in the majority of strongly shaped (–0.55 ≤ δ ≤ –0.45) discharges. Moreover, these same fluctuations were found to be absent in weaker NT plasma shapes. Based on a database study, three separate mode behaviors are observed based primarily on the edge safety factor and normalized plasma beta β N . The main regime is the bursty state, in which short (~5 ms) magnetic bursts occur every 5–10 ms. Each burst drives a small reduction in the edge electron temperature (T e ) as measured by electron cyclotron emissions (ECE), which then rapidly recovers between the bursts. The quiescent regime appears to have governing mechanics similar to the bursty regime, but with multiple unique mode signatures observed in the magnetics. These additional modes greatly reduce the bursty nature of the plasma. Finally, a saturated state is observed in a number of discharges, particularly at early time slices. The saturated regime is often short-lived (maximum 500 ms), but can have a large impact on the dynamics of the plasma edge region, causing significant drops in electron temperature as observed in the ECE diagnostic. 2D ECE imaging (ECE-I) is utilized, showing large kink-like perturbations localized near the last closed flux surface that extend into the SOL indicative of an external kink/peeling behavior. Additionally, evidence of phase mixing and observed tearing-parity perturbations localized near the edge rational surfaces is observed in the quiescent regime plasmas. As a result, the various modes do not appear to have a large impact on global confinement but may play a role in regulating the transport of the NT edge and the observed edge gradients.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Characteristics and mechanisms of hydrogen-induced quasi-cleavage fracture of lath martensitic steel

Here this study presents an in-depth characterization of the microstructures, crystallographic orientations, and dislocation characteristics beneath hydrogen-induced quasi-cleavage fracture features of an as-quenched, lath martensitic (α') 22MnB5 steel. The fracture surfaces of gaseous hydrogen-embrittled martensitic specimens were analyzed by a combination of multiple analytical tools: scanning electron microscopy (SEM), electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and transmission Kikuchi diffraction (TKD). The dominant fracture mode in the hydrogen-affected zones was quasi-cleavage fracture, which involved significant plasticity, evidenced by plastic zones near tear ridges and a high density of dislocations beneath the quasi-cleavage facets. The martensite constituent sizes, variant orientations, and boundaries influenced the quasi-cleavage surface morphologies. Fractography revealed the occurrence of {100} α' -type cleavage across martensitic laths, developing relatively “flat” quasi-cleavage surfaces, in addition to {110} α' -type cracking likely along lath and block boundaries, and fracture along non-cleavage planes. The likelihood of the formation of the relatively “flat” quasi-cleavage surfaces increased with increasing martensitic constituent sizes. Substantial dislocation bands formed on intersecting {112} α' slip planes within a martensite block below the hydrogen-induced cleavage fractures on {100} α' planes. River markings on the quasi-cleavage surfaces were found to originate from the complex, hierarchical lath martensitic microstructure. Steps and ridges on the quasi-cleavage facets generally linked with the various martensitic boundaries, suggesting that they were produced as a result of crack deviations at those boundaries. The fracture paths and martensite quasi-cleavage mechanisms are discussed in the context of the role of hydrogen and Cottrell cleavage model.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Identifying the microtearing modes in the pedestal of DIII-D H-modes using gyrokinetic simulations

Recent evidence points toward the microtearing mode (MTM) as an important fluctuation in the H-mode pedestal for anomalous electron heat transport. A study of the instabilities in the pedestal region carried out using gyrokinetic simulations to model an ELMy H-mode DIII-D discharge (USN configuration, 1.4 MA plasma current, and 3 MW heating power) is presented. The simulations produce MTMs, identified by predominantly electromagnetic heat flux, small particle flux, and a substantial degree of tearing parity. The magnetic spectrogram from Mirnov coils exhibits three distinct frequency bands—two narrow bands at lower frequency (~35–55 kHz and ~70–105 kHz) and a broader band at higher frequency (~300–500 kHz). Global linear GENE simulations produce MTMs that are centered at the peak of the ω* profile and correspond closely with the bands in the spectrogram. The three distinctive frequency bands can be understood from the basic physical mechanisms underlying the instabilities. For example (i) instability of certain toroidal mode numbers (n) is controlled by the alignment of their rational surfaces with the peak in the ω* profile, and (ii) MTM instabilities in the lower n bands are the conventional collisional slab MTM, whereas the higher n band depends on curvature drive. While many features of the modes can be captured with the local approximation, a global treatment is necessary to quantitatively reproduce the detailed band gaps of the low-n fluctuations. Notably, the transport signatures of the MTM are consistent with careful edge modeling by SOLPS.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Transition to Petschek Reconnection in Subrelativistic Pair Plasmas: Implications for Particle Acceleration

While relativistic magnetic reconnection in pair plasmas has emerged in recent years as a candidate for the origin of radiation from extreme astrophysical environments, the corresponding subrelativistic pair-plasma regime has remained less explored, leaving open the question of how relativistic physics affects reconnection. In this paper, we investigate the differences between these regimes by contrasting two-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations of reconnection in pair plasmas with relativistic magnetization (σ ≫ 1) and subrelativistic magnetization (σ < 1). By utilizing unprecedentedly large domain sizes and outflow boundary conditions, we demonstrate that lowering the magnetization results in a change in the reconnection geometry from a plasmoid chain to a Petschek geometry, where laminar exhausts bounded by slow-mode shocks emanate from a single diffusion region. We attribute this change to the reduced plasmoid production rate in the low-σ case: When the secondary tearing rate is sufficiently low, plasmoids are too few in number to prevent the system from relaxing into a stable Petschek configuration. This geometric change also affects particle energization: We show that while high-σ plasmoid chains generate power-law energy spectra, low-σ Petschek exhausts merely heat incoming plasma and yield negligible nonthermal acceleration. These results have implications for predicting the global current sheet geometry and the resulting energy spectra in a variety of systems.

Plasma astrophysics↗

Nonlinear MHD modeling of n = 1 RMP -induced pedestal transport and mode coupling effects on ELM suppression in KSTAR

We report fully suppressing edge-localized modes (ELMs), e.g., with resonant magnetic perturbations (RMPs), is essential to reach and sustain high-performance steady-state H-mode plasmas because large ELMs can significantly reduce the lifetime of divertor components in future tokamak reactors. RMP-driven ELM suppression in KSTAR has been modeled by coupling the neoclassical transport code PENTRC to the nonlinear 3D MHD code JOREK. We have found that the radial transport from the combined effects of the kink-peeling, tearing response, and neoclassical toroidal viscosity can explain the pedestal degradation observed in experiments. In addition, it has been found that the RMP response can increase the inter-ELM heat flux on the lower outer divertor by redistributing the heat transport between the divertor plates. In addition to the degraded pedestal, ELM suppression is also attributable to the RMP-induced mode interactions. While the linear stability of peeling-ballooning mode (PBMs) improves owing to the degraded pedestal, the PBM and RMP interaction increases the spectral transfer between edge harmonics, preventing catastrophic growth and the crash of unstable modes. Here, it turns out that the magnetic islands near the pedestal top can play a vital role in mediating the mode interactions.

mode coupling↗

Micro-tensile Properties of Fueled Irradiated AGR-2 TRISO-coated Particle Buffer, IPyC, and SiC Interlayer Regions

Tristructural isotropic (TRISO) coated nuclear fuel particles are proving to be a versatile fuel form for new reactor designs. Understanding the bounding strength and failure mode of each coating interface is important to both fuel quality evaluation and failure prediction. A mechanism of key significance is failure of the silicon carbide (SiC) layer to retain fission products due to incomplete tearing of the buffer layer. This is a two-step mechanism involving both mechanical failure in the buffer and inner pyrolytic carbon (IPyC) layers and degradation of the SiC layer through palladium silicides at the IPyC-SiC interface. However, the mechanical properties of TRISO particle coating layers have yet to be fully characterized due to the small dimension of TRISO fuel particles and high radioactivity. To investigate this mechanism, in situ micro-tensile properties of the buffer, IPyC, SiC, buffer-IPyC, and IPyC-SiC interlayer regions of fueled TRISO particles have been tested at both as-fabricated and irradiated conditions. Determination of the mechanical properties of these TRISO particle regions will lead to a better understanding of the SiC layer failure mechanism and enable progress towards TRISO fuel qualification.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

Avoiding fusion plasma tearing instability with deep reinforcement learning

For stable and efficient fusion energy production using a tokamak reactor, it is essential to maintain a high-pressure hydrogenic plasma without plasma disruption. Therefore, it is necessary to actively control the tokamak based on the observed plasma state, to manoeuvre high-pressure plasma while avoiding tearing instability, the leading cause of disruptions. This presents an obstacle-avoidance problem for which artificial intelligence based on reinforcement learning has recently shown remarkable performance. However, the obstacle here, the tearing instability, is difficult to forecast and is highly prone to terminating plasma operations, especially in the ITER baseline scenario. Previously, we developed a multimodal dynamic model that estimates the likelihood of future tearing instability based on signals from multiple diagnostics and actuators. Here we harness this dynamic model as a training environment for reinforcement-learning artificial intelligence, facilitating automated instability prevention. We demonstrate artificial intelligence control to lower the possibility of disruptive tearing instabilities in DIII-D, the largest magnetic fusion facility in the United States. The controller maintained the tearing likelihood under a given threshold, even under relatively unfavourable conditions of low safety factor and low torque. In particular, it allowed the plasma to actively track the stable path within the time-varying operational space while maintaining H-mode performance, which was challenging with traditional preprogrammed control. This controller paves the path to developing stable high-performance operational scenarios for future use in ITER.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Estimates of the wavenumber wavelet power spectrum of magnetic fluctuations during magnetic reconnection

Fluctuation analyses of experimental observations generally lack high temporal resolution and are in frequency-space f, contrary to theoretical efforts in wavenumber-space k. This is due to the inherent limits of the Fourier transform, though it is prominent due to the ease of diagnostic implementation. Advances in wavelet-based analysis have provided relief due to its temporal resolution, but in its common use, is still hard to compare to theoretical models. By using the two-point correlation technique in conjunction with large data sets, a wavelet power spectrum in wavenumber-space can be created. Dubbed the wavenumber wavelet power spectrum, this spectrum relates wavenumber to power in time. Further, this analysis technique more closely connects characterizations of experimentally observed fluctuations with other system parameters and theoretical predictions. In this article, we develop the wavenumber wavelet power spectrum using magnetic fluctuations caused by tearing instability driven magnetic reconnection in reproducible, high temperature laboratory plasmas. These dynamic magnetic fluctuations generated in reversed field pinch plasmas are broadband, ranging from the low frequency, 10's of kHz, up to the ion gyroradii frequencies, 100's of kHz. The dominant fluctuations have poloidal and toroidal mode numbers (m,n)=(1,6−10) and can grow to 2%–3% of the mean magnetic field. During these reconnection events, ions, and electrons are energized, magnetic fluctuation amplitudes increase, plasma flow is halted, and the toroidal magnetic flux increases, all on a semi-periodic basis. The newly developed spectrum provides better temporal resolution of spectrum characteristics to correlate with these particle energization phenomena.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Metrics and extrapolation of resonant magnetic perturbation thresholds for ELM suppression

This large database study of resonant magnetic perturbation (RMP) edge localized mode (ELM) suppression thresholds in the AUG, DIII-D, EAST, and KSTAR tokamaks details the key strengths and weaknesses of RMP metrics. The RMP ELM suppression database used for this work contains plasma information at the time of transition from ELMing to ELM suppressed states where a clear experimental threshold is identified. The experimental threshold distributions are compared for five metrics: (1) the island overlap width, (2) pedestal top Chirikov overlap, (3) peeling edge displacement, (4) pedestal top resonant drive, and (5) edge dominant mode overlap. The distributions, the regularity of the dependence on RMP coil currents, and the sensitivities of a given metric to equilibrium reconstruction details are compared. The overlap metric proves to be a good compromise between including the appropriate plasma response physics and maintaining a numerical robustness. This quantity does not exhibit clear power-law scalings for projection, but machine learning can assist in predicting thresholds within the existing parameter ranges and providing uncertainty quantification of those predictions. Two new first-principles models, one utilizing a threshold from the non-linear Modified Rutherford equation evaluated at the pedestal top and one utilizing the SLAYER code to calculate the linear tearing threshold from torque balance, offer possible paths to extrapolation beyond the existing database parameter space.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Modeling of thermal-ion-driven internal kink in DIII-D high- T i plasmas

Toroidal modeling utilizing the non-perturbative magnetohydrodynamic-kinetic hybrid code MARS-K (Liu Y.Q. et al 2008 Phys. Plasmas 15 112503), to a DIII-D high-performance discharge with the core thermal ion temperature of T i ~ 13 keV, finds multiple branches of unstable internal kink (IK) modes triggered by the bounce resonance of trapped thermal ions. The range of the computed mode frequency aligns well with the bounce frequency of trapped thermal ions, confirming the nature of resonance drive for the instability. The computed mode frequency is close to that observed in experiments. Plasma toroidal flow, in particular the fast flow ($ > $10% of Alfvén speed) as in the considered DIII-D discharge, strongly stabilizes the fluid IK branch but not all of the thermal-ion-driven internal kink (TIK) branches, leaving one dominant unstable TIK branch under the experimental conditions. Plasma resistivity also significantly affects stability of the TIKs (but not much on the IK which is ideally strongly unstable) in combination with the drift kinetic drive by thermal ions. High resistivity can drive additional unstable TIK branches. Scanning the on-axis safety factor over a large range confirms robustness of the TIK triggering by thermal ions. The computed TIKs contain both the IK and the tearing components as the dominant contributions to the eigenmode structure. Furthermore, these findings, together with the experimental results reported in reference (Du X.D. et al 2021 Phys. Rev. Lett. 127 025001), strongly suggest the possibility of thermal-ion driven instabilities in ITER.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗