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At least 307 records · Page 17

Equilibrium reconstruction of DIII-D plasmas using predictive modeling of the pressure profile

New workflows have been developed for predictive modeling of magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) equilibrium in tokamak plasmas. The goal of this work is to predict the MHD equilibrium in tokamak discharges without having measurements of the kinetic profiles. The workflows include a cold start tool, which constructs all the profiles and power flows needed by transport codes; a Grad–Shafranov equilibrium solver; and various codes for the sources and sinks. For validation purposes, a database of DIII-D tokamak discharges has been constructed that is comprised of scans in the plasma current, toroidal magnetic field, and triangularity. Initial efforts focused on developing a workflow utilizing an empirically derived pressure model tuned to DIII-D discharges with monotonic safety factor profiles. This workflow shows good agreement with experimental kinetic equilibrium calculations, but is limited in that it is a single fluid (equal ion and electron temperatures) model and lacks H-mode pedestal predictions. The best agreement with the H-mode database is obtained using a theory-based workflow utilizing pressure profile predictions from a coupled TGLF turbulent transport and EPED pedestal models together with external magnetics and Motional Stark Effect (MSE) data to construct the equilibrium. Here, we obtain an average root mean square error of 5.1% in the safety factor profile when comparing the predicted and experimental kinetic equilibrium. We also find good agreement with the plasma stored energy, internal inductance, and pressure profiles. Including MSE data in the theory-based workflow results in noticeably improved agreement with the q-profiles in high triangularity discharges in comparison with the results obtained with magnetic data only. The predictive equilibrium workflow is expected to have wide applications in experimental planning, between-shot analysis, and reactor studies.

Kinsey, J. E. (ORCID:0000000193347473)↗

Diagnosing the pedestal magnetic field and magnetohydrodynamics radial structure with pedestal–scrape of layer electron cyclotron emission radiation inversion in H-mode plasma (invited)

Forward modeling is used to interpret inversion patterns of the pedestal–Scrape of Layer (SOL) Electron Cyclotron Emission (ECE) in DIII-D H-mode experiments. The modeling not only significantly improves the ECE data interpretation quality but also leads to the potential measurements of (1) the magnetic field strength |B| at the separatrix, (2) the pedestal |B| evolution during an inter-Edge Localized Mode (ELM) period, and (3) the pedestal Magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) radial structure. The ECE shine-through effect leads to three types of pedestal–SOL radiation inversions that are discussed in this paper. The first type of inversion is the non-monotonic T e,rad profile with respect to the major radius. Using the ECE frequency at the minimum T e,rad , the inversion can be applied to measure the magnetic field |B| at the separatrix and calibrate the mapping of the ECE channels with respect to the separatrix. The second type of inversion refers to the opposite phase between the radiation fluctuations δT e,rad at the pedestal and SOL. This δT e,rad phase inversion is sensitive to density and temperature fluctuations at the pedestal foot and, thus, can be used to qualitatively measure the MHD radial structure. The third type of inversion appears when the pedestal and SOL T e,rad evolve in an opposite trend, which can be used to infer the pedestal |B| field change during an inter-ELM period. Finally, the bandwidth effect on measuring δT e,rad due to pedestal MHD is also investigated in the radiation modeling.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Pressure-driven tearing and thermal transport in finite-beta reversed field pinch computations

In this work, nonlinear resistive-magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) computation with heating and anisotropic transport is applied to examine the interaction between thermal energy and magnetic fluctuations in inductively driven reversed-field pinches (RFPs). The magnetic fluctuations underlie magnetic field reversal through dynamo-like correlations, and they enhance thermal energy transport through fluctuations of parallel heat flux density. With the unfavorable magnetic curvature that exists across the RFP profile, thermal energy also affects the magnetic fluctuations. Computations with the NIMROD code [Sovinec et al., J. Comput. Phys. 195, 355–386 (2004)] integrate nonlinear MHD dynamics with energy transport and reproduce an RFP state with experimentally relevant values of plasma-β. Equilibria constructed from results of the 3D computations are analyzed to assess the sources of free energy in the saturated nonlinear state. Linear computations for these profiles show unstable modes of tearing parity. Their eigenfunctions are used to evaluate and compare stabilizing and destabilizing contributions to the kinetic energy integral. An assessment of the drives in the integral reveals that the pressure gradient drive is of comparable magnitude to the parallel current drive, and only the sum of the two surpasses the stabilizing contributions. Correlation of magnetic and parallel heat flux density fluctuations in the nonlinear computations shows that fluctuation-induced thermal conduction is the dominant mode of energy loss, as expected from experimental evidence. Decomposition of the fluctuating heat flux density shows that second-order correlations, alone, do not explain the total energy transport. Higher-order correlations are also important.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Laboratory study of the failed torus mechanism in arched, line-tied, magnetic flux ropes

Coronal mass ejections (CMEs) are some of the most energetic and violent events in our solar system. The prediction and understanding of CMEs are of particular importance due to the impact that they can have on Earth-based satellite systems and, in extreme cases, ground-based electronics. CMEs often occur when long-lived magnetic flux ropes (MFRs) anchored to the solar surface destabilize and erupt away from the Sun. One potential cause for these eruptions is an ideal magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) instability, such as the kink or torus instability. Previous experiments on the magnetic reconnection experiment revealed a class of MFRs that were torus-unstable but kink-stable, which failed to erupt. These “failed-tori” went through a process similar to Taylor relaxation, where the toroidal current was redistributed before the eruption ultimately failed. Herein we have investigated this behavior through additional diagnostics that measure the current distribution at the foot points and the energy distribution before and after an event. These measurements indicate that ideal MHD effects are sufficient to explain the energy distribution changes during failed torus events. This excludes Taylor relaxation as a possible mechanism of current redistribution during an event. A new model that only requires non-ideal effects in a thin layer above the electrodes is presented to explain the observed phenomena. This work broadens our understanding of the stability of MFRs and the mechanism behind the failed torus through the improved prediction of the torus instability and through new diagnostics to measure the energy inventory and current profile at the foot points.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Effects of NBI-induced energetic ions on internal kink stability in HL-2M

A systematic investigation is carried out, studying the effect of the neutral beam injection induced energetic particles (EPs) on the n = 1 (n is the toroidal mode number) internal kink (IK) instability in the HL-2M tokamak, utilizing the MARS-F/K code [Liu et al., Phys. Plasmas 7, 3681 (2000) and 15, 112503 (2008)]. A high-beta sawteething HL-2M scenario, simulated by the TRANSP code [Breslau et al. Computer Software (2018)], is chosen for this study. Compared to the fluid model, non-perturbative magnetohydrodynamic (MHD)-kinetic hybrid computations with MARS-K show a generally stabilization effect on the IK, due to drift kinetic resonances associated with EPs. Further, the bounce resonance of trapped EPs has minor influence on the mode stability. In the absence of the plasma equilibrium flow and with the assumed particle pitch distribution, the transit resonance of co-current (countercurrent) passing EPs destabilizes (stabilizes) the IK. With plasma flow, both co- and countercurrent passing EPs tend to stabilize the mode, but the effect is stronger with the countercurrent particles. These modeling results provide useful guidance for interpreting MHD instabilities in the future high-performance experiments in HL-2M.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Destabilizing effects of edge infernal components on resistive wall modes in advanced tokamak scenarios

The stability of the n = 1 resistive wall modes (RWMs) dominated by the pressure-driven infernal components is investigated using the ideal magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) code AEGIS for the advanced tokamak scenarios. Here, n is the toroidal mode number. In the advanced tokamak scenarios, due to the large fraction of bootstrap current contribution, the profile of safety factor q is deeply reversed in magnetic shear in the central core region and locally flattened within the edge pedestal. Consequently, the pressure-driven infernal components develop in the corresponding flat-q regions of both core and edge. However, the edge infernal components dominate the n = 1 RWM structure and lead to lower β N limits for the advanced tokamak scenarios. In the framework of ideal MHD, the edge rotation is found the most critical to the stabilization due to the dominant influence of the edge infernal components, which should be maintained sufficiently large in magnitude and range in order for the rotation alone to fully suppress the n = 1 RWM in typical advanced tokamak scenarios.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Low latency optical-based mode tracking with machine learning deployed on FPGAs on a tokamak

Active feedback control in magnetic confinement fusion devices is desirable to mitigate plasma instabilities and enable robust operation. Optical high-speed cameras provide a powerful, non-invasive diagnostic and can be suitable for these applications. Here, in this study, we process high-speed camera data, at rates exceeding 100 kfps, on in situ field-programmable gate array (FPGA) hardware to track magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) mode evolution and generate control signals in real time. Our system utilizes a convolutional neural network (CNN) model, which predicts the n = 1 MHD mode amplitude and phase using camera images with better accuracy than other tested non-deep-learning-based methods. By implementing this model directly within the standard FPGA readout hardware of the high-speed camera diagnostic, our mode tracking system achieves a total trigger-to-output latency of 17.6 μs and a throughput of up to 120 kfps. This study at the High Beta Tokamak-Extended Pulse (HBT-EP) experiment demonstrates an FPGA-based high-speed camera data acquisition and processing system, enabling application in real-time machine-learning-based tokamak diagnostic and control as well as potential applications in other scientific domains.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

Investigating nonlinear magnetohydrodynamics in an optimized, reactor-scale quasi-axisymmetric stellarator

We use the new simulation capabilities of the extended-magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) code, M3D-C1, to investigate the nonlinear MHD properties of a reactor-scale quasisymmetric stellarator equilibrium. Our model captures the self-consistent evolution of the magnetic field, temperature, density, and flow profiles without imposing restrictions on the structure of the first. We include the effects of resistivity using a realistic temperature-dependent Spitzer model, along with a model for heat transport that captures the key physical characteristic, namely, strongly anisotropic diffusion in directions perpendicular and parallel to the magnetic field. We consider a quasi-axisymmetric, finite-pressure equilibrium that was optimized for self-consistent bootstrap current, quasi-symmetry, and energetic particle confinement. Our assessment finds that the equilibrium is highly unstable to interchange-like pressure-driven instabilities near the plasma edge. The initially unstable modes rapidly destabilize other modes in the direction of the N-fold rotational symmetry (toroidal, in this case). For this equilibrium, N = 2, meaning destabilization of a large number of even-numbered toroidal Fourier modes. Thus, field-periodicity is likely to be an important factor in the nonlinear MHD stability characteristics of optimized stellarators.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Three-dimensional plasmoid-mediated reconnection and turbulence in Hall magnetohydrodynamics

Plasmoid instability accelerates reconnection in collisional plasmas by transforming a laminar reconnection layer into numerous plasmoids connected by secondary current sheets in two dimensions (2D) and by fostering self-generated turbulent reconnection in three dimensions (3D). In large-scale astrophysical and space systems, plasmoid instability likely initiates in the collisional regime but may transition into the collisionless regime as the fragmentation of the current sheet progresses toward kinetic scales. Hall magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) models are widely regarded as a simplified yet effective representation of the transition from collisional to collisionless reconnection. However, plasmoid instability in 2D Hall MHD simulations often leads to a single-X-line reconnection configuration, which significantly differs from fully kinetic particle-in-cell simulation results. This study shows that single-X-line reconnection is less likely to occur in 3D compared to 2D. Moreover, depending on the Lundquist number and the ratio between the system size and the kinetic scale, Hall MHD can also realize 3D self-generated turbulent reconnection. We analyze the features of the self-generated turbulent state, including the energy power spectra and the scale dependence of turbulent eddy anisotropy.

Physics↗

Orbit-following simulations of fast-ion transport and losses due to the Alfvén eigenmode burst in the Large Helical Device

Orbit-following simulations of fast-ion transport and losses with time-dependent electromagnetic perturbations are performed to clarify the roles of Alfvén eigenmodes (AEs) and the low-frequency magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) mode observed in the kinetic-MHD hybrid simulation of AE bursts in the Large Helical Device. Fast-ion pressure profile flattening in the kinetic-MHD hybrid simulation can be reproduced by an orbit-following simulation with only the primary single AE of the time-dependent amplitude following the kinetic-MHD hybrid simulation result, while orbit-following simulations with constant AE amplitude of average level during AE burst cannot reproduce the fast-ion pressure profile flattening observed. The effects of other modes are negligible on the fast-ion pressure profile flattening. The fast-ion losses in kinetic-MHD hybrid simulation can be reproduced by an orbit-following simulation with time-dependent amplitude when the low-frequency MHD mode is considered in addition to multiple AEs. This indicates the synergetic effect of multiple AEs and the low-frequency MHD mode on fast-ion losses.

Seki, Ryohsuke↗

Forming a database to study reversed magnetic shear from the National Spherical Torus eXperiment using machine learning

Achieving a long-lived reversed magnetic shear (RMS) target plasma in the National Spherical Torus eXperiment Upgrade will require developing various sustainment scenarios. To help with the ongoing plasma control efforts, the development of a new analysis for the motional Stark effect (MSE) diagnostic using a machine learning algorithm, namely, MSE-ML, is described. MSE-ML will be used to identify patterns during RMS discharges, some of which suffer magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) events resulting in current redistribution and monotonic q-profiles. A database consisting of q and magnetic shear profiles is being constructed primarily based on the existing National Spherical Torus eXperiment data with equilibrium reconstructions constrained by the magnetic field pitch angle profile measured using the multi-channel MSE diagnostic. An unsupervised k-means clustering of the data is developed to study the RMS formation as a function of time. The initial clustering from the q-profiles shows significant differences in both amplitude and the duration of the RMS period. As a goal, the clustering results that detect and distinguish shots with substantial and sustained RMS are to be used as a preprocessing step in a supervised algorithm to identify the underlying conditions that lead to long-lasting improved confinement with RMS. Another aim of the MSE-ML study is to identify precursors of RMS-destroying MHD events in either derived data such as the q-profile or directly measured data such as the magnetic field pitch angle profile.

Uzun-Kaymak, I. U. (ORCID:0000000276251493)↗

Effects of zero and reversed magnetic shear on resistive wall modes in a straight limiter tokamak with zero beta

Advanced tokamak scenarios often feature equilibriums with zero and reversed magnetic shear. To isolate and investigate their impacts on the resistive wall mode (RWM) instability analytically, we construct a series of cylindrical limiter equilibriums with different magnetic shear in the core and toward plasma edge, as a prototype of the configurations in advanced tokamak scenarios. Equilibriums with zero β are considered so that the analysis focuses on the current-driven RWMs. Analytical solutions for the n=1 resistive wall mode, derived from the reduced ideal magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) equations, consistently demonstrate key insights for both the core and the edge: the growth rate of RWMs is inversely proportional to the averaged magnetic shear when the safety factor at the edge (qa) is held constant. Specifically, an increase in positive averaged magnetic shear results in a decreased growth rate, whereas an increase in negative averaged magnetic shear leads to an increased growth rate. Furthermore, the influence of nqa on the mode's stability significantly surpasses the effects of magnetic shear changes previously discussed. These analytical calculation results provide a verification of NIMROD simulations.

Wan, Sui (ORCID:0009000464121677)↗

Burn propagation in magnetized high-yield inertial fusion

Recent experiments at the National Ignition Facility (NIF) have demonstrated ignition for the first time in an inertial confinement fusion (ICF) experiment, a major milestone allowing the possibility of high energy gain through burn propagation. Use of external magnetic fields, applied primarily to reduce thermal losses, could increase hotspot temperature and ease requirements for ignition, opening up the capsule design space for high energy gain. However, this same restriction of thermal transport has the potential to inhibit burn propagation, which is vital in the attainment of high gain. In this work, radiation-magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) simulations carried out using the code Chimera are used to investigate the effect of a pre-imposed magnetic field on ignition and burn propagation. This paper studies the propagation of burn using both an idealized planar model and in fully integrated 2D MHD simulations of an igniting NIF capsule. A study of magnetized burn propagation in the idealized planar model identifies three regimes of magnetized burn propagation: (1) thermal conduction driven; (2) alpha transport driven; and (3) fully suppressed burn. Simulations of NIF shot N210808 with an applied 40 T axial field show clear indication of burn suppression perpendicular to field lines, with rapid burn observed along field lines. Implosion shape is altered by the field, and anisotropic conduction causes significant modification to the rate of ablation during stagnation. These results highlight the fundamental changes to implosion dynamics in high-yield magnetized ICF and motivate further study to better optimize future magnetized target designs for high gain.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Nonlinear magnetohydrodynamic modeling of ideal ballooning modes in high- β Wendelstein 7-X plasmas

We present nonlinear magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) simulations of high- β Wendelstein 7-X plasmas using the stellarator extension of the M3D- C 1 code, building on the recent work that shows benign saturation of ideal ballooning modes above the designed β limit in the standard configuration [Zhou et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 133, 135102 (2024)]. First, we examine the results' sensitivity to the parallel thermal conductivity. It is found that while an increased parallel conductivity reduces the linear growth rate, the saturated pressure profile is barely affected. Second, we consider the dependence on the profile shape. It is shown that an equilibrium with a peaked pressure profile and lower β is subject to more significant change than a broad profile with higher β and a larger growth rate, suggesting that benign saturation, or nonlinear stability, is not guaranteed and not dictated by linear growth. Third, we study the influence of the magnetic configuration, with the equilibrium rotational transform varied by adjusting the planar coil current. With similar growth rates, similar magnitudes of profile change are found regardless of the presence of a low-order resonance, which implies that the saturation mechanism is not specific to a resonant or non-resonant mode. These results indicate that MHD stability should still be treated seriously in stellarator operation and design, for which nonlinear modeling using tools like M3D- C 1 can play an instrumental role.

Zhou, Yao [Shanghai Jiao Tong University (China)] ↗

Expansion-driven Weibel instability in magnetohydrodynamics: Linear theory for static systems

The Weibel dispersion relation is obtained in the magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) approximation by including a tensor expression for temperature. MHD gives an upper cutoff wavenumber for Weibel growth identical to kinetic theory if the electron drift velocity is included in the evolution of the electron temperature. MHD overestimates growth rates compared to kinetic theory and gives maximum growth at larger wavenumbers, but it only leads to divergent results as temperature anisotropy tends to infinity. Thermal conduction in MHD lowers the growth rates and shifts maximum growth to smaller wavenumbers, but flux-limited or nonlocal thermal conduction is found to significantly limit these effects. The results are used as a first step in evaluating the potential of MHD to simulate expansion-driven Weibel instability, which occurs due to the temperature tensor only cooling in the direction of expansion. Finally, the small temperature anisotropy found in expansion-driven Weibel instability means that MHD could be an adequate model because growth rates are much less than the electron plasma frequency, and wavelengths are much greater than the Debye length.

Davies, J. R. [Univ. of Rochester, NY (United Stat↗

Multiscale and multidimensional modeling of particle acceleration and transport in solar flares

Multi-messenger, multi-viewpoint, and time-resolved observations of solar flares are now providing unprecedented constraints on particle acceleration sites, energy conversion, and energy transport. The interpretation of current observations, including microwave imaging spectroscopy from EOVSA, hard x-ray (HXR) imaging from Solar Orbiter/STIX, gamma-ray diagnostics from Fermi, and in situ measurements from Parker Solar Probe and Solar Orbiter, collectively demands modeling frameworks that go beyond traditional spatially unresolved, one-zone models or single-mechanism descriptions. This review surveys multiscale and multidimensional modeling approaches, including kinetic, magnetohydrodynamic (MHD), and macroscopic particle models, that are being developed to meet the need. Kinetic simulations reveal that three-dimensional (3D) effects, including field-line chaos and self-generated turbulence, are essential for sustained power-law particle acceleration. MHD simulations now capture flux-rope eruptions, plasmoid-unstable current sheets, and turbulent flare regions in realistic magnetic topologies. Macroscopic models coupling MHD with energetic-particle models produce spatially resolved electron distributions and synthetic HXR and microwave emissions for direct comparison with observations. Despite these advances, outstanding challenges remain in bridging kinetic and global scales, improving MHD simulations and macroscopic particle models, and achieving quantitative model-observation closure.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Time-resolved turbulent dynamo in a laser plasma

Understanding magnetic-field generation and amplification in turbulent plasma is essential to account for observations of magnetic fields in the universe. A theoretical framework attributing the origin and sustainment of these fields to the so-called fluctuation dynamo was recently validated by experiments on laser facilities in low-magnetic-Prandtl-number plasmas (Pm < 1). However, the same framework proposes that the fluctuation dynamo should operate differently when Pm ≳ 1, the regime relevant to many astrophysical environments such as the intracluster medium of galaxy clusters. This paper reports an experiment that creates a laboratory Pm ≳ 1 plasma dynamo. We provide a time-resolved characterization of the plasma’s evolution, measuring temperatures, densities, flow velocities, and magnetic fields, which allows us to explore various stages of the fluctuation dynamo’s operation on seed magnetic fields generated by the action of the Biermann-battery mechanism during the initial drive-laser target interaction. The magnetic energy in structures with characteristic scales close to the driving scale of the stochastic motions is found to increase by almost three orders of magnitude and saturate dynamically. It is shown that the initial growth of these fields occurs at a much greater rate than the turnover rate of the driving-scale stochastic motions. Here, our results point to the possibility that plasma turbulence produced by strong shear can generate fields more efficiently at the driving scale than anticipated by idealized magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) simulations of the nonhelical fluctuation dynamo; this finding could help explain the large-scale fields inferred from observations of astrophysical systems.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Core-Pedestal Plasma Configurations in Advanced Tokamaks

Here, several configurations for the core and pedestal plasma are examined for a predefined tokamak design by implementing multiple heating/current drive (H/CD) sources to achieve an optimum configuration of high fusion power in a noninductive operation while maintaining an ideally magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) stable core plasma using the IPS-FASTRAN framework. IPS-FASTRAN is a component-based lightweight coupled simulation framework that is used to simulate magnetically confined plasma by integrating a set of high-fidelity codes to construct the plasma equilibrium (EFIT, TOQ, and CHEASE), calculate the turbulent heat and particle transport fluxes (TGLF), model various H/CD systems (TORIC, TORAY, GENRAY, and NUBEAM), model the pedestal pressure and width (EPED), and estimate the ideal MHD stability (DCON). The TGLF core transport model and EPED pedestal model are used to self-consistently predict plasma profiles consistent with ideal MHD stability and H/CD (and bootstrap) current sources. In order to evaluate the achievable and sustainable plasma beta, varying configurations are produced ranging from the no-wall stability to with-wall stability regimes, simultaneously subject to the self-consistent TGLF, EPED, and H/CD source profile predictions that optimize configuration performance. The pedestal density, plasma current, and total injected power are scanned to explore their impact on the target plasma configuration, fusion power, and confinement quality. A set of fully noninductive scenarios are achieved by employing ion-cyclotron, neutral beam injection, helicon, and lower-hybrid H/CDs to provide a broad profile for the total current drive in the core region for a predefined tokamak design. These noninductive scenarios are characterized by high fusion gain (Q ~ 4) and power (P fus ~ 600 MW), optimum confinement quality (H 98 ~ 1.1), and high bootstrap current fraction (f BS ~ 0.7) for Greenwald fraction below unity. The broad current profile configurations identified are stable to low-n kink modes either because the normalized pressure β N is below the no-wall limit or a wall is present.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗