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Results for “electron Bernstein waves”

Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 19 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2016

X-ray analysis of electron Bernstein wave heating in MST

A pulse height analyzing x-ray tomography system has been developed to detect x-rays from electron Bernstein wave heated electrons in the Madison symmetric torus reversed field pinch (RFP). Cadmium zinc telluride detectors are arranged in a parallel beam array with two orthogonal multi-chord detectors that may be used for tomography. In addition a repositionable 16 channel fan beam camera with a 55° field of view is used to augment data collected with the Hard X-ray array. The chord integrated signals identify target emission from RF heated electrons striking a limiter located 12° toroidally away from the RF injection port. This provides information on heated electron spectrum, transport, and diffusion. RF induced x-ray emission from absorption on harmonic electron cyclotron resonances in low current (<250 kA) RFP discharges has been observed.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2014

Electron Bernstein wave heating and emission measurement through the very narrow O-X-B mode conversion window in the LHD

In the large helical device (LHD), the theoretically predicted width of the ordinary-extraordinary-electron Bernstein wave (O-X-B) mode conversion (MC) window is comparable to the beam width and the power deposition is located in the off-axis region if the 77GHz fundamental electron cyclotron (EC) wave of is launched from an existing horizontal port antenna. In the experiment, the actual MC window location was looked for with changing the aiming. The effective aiming with that the increase of the stored energy was observed was two degrees apart from the location of the theoretical MC window at a maximum. Measurement of the waves originated from the thermally emitted EBW and radiated via the B-X-O mode conversion process is effective to improve the accuracy of the theoretical prediction with comparison between the theoretical and the experimental results. The theoretical prediction suggests that the width of the MC window of the fundamental 77GHz EC wave can be expanded if the lower port antenna is used. On the other hand, the MC window of the second harmonic 154GHz EC wave is blocked by horizontal port wall if another horizontal port antenna is used. It is required to move the final mirror of the quasi-optical antenna toward the plasma surface. Focusing of the beam at the plasma cutoff is (PC) also necessary for the effective mode conversion.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2015

Comment on “Generalized dispersion relation for electron Bernstein waves in a non-Maxwellian magnetized anisotropic plasma” [Phys. Plasmas 17, 102114 (2010)]

In a recent paper [Deeba et al., Phys. Plasmas 17, 102114 (2010)], a generalized dielectric constant for the electron Bernstein waves using non-Maxwellian distribution functions was derived in a collisionless, uniform magnetized plasma. Using the Neumann series expansion for the products of Bessel functions, Deeba, Ahmad, and Murtaza derived the dispersion relations for both kappa and the generalized (r, q) distributions in a straightforward manner. However, their results are questionable, since the Neumann series expansion for the products of Bessel functions is valid for small argument, while for perpendicular propagation, it is necessary to evaluate special integrands for small as well as large arguments.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2020

Electron Bernstein wave conversion of high-field side injected X-modes in QUEST

This paper presents a detailed design of the Q-shu University experimental steady state spherical tokamak's (QUEST's) high-field side (HFS) injection system for electron Bernstein wave (EBW) excitation and the results of an experimental comparison of the HFS eXtraordinary X-mode and low-field side (LFS) ordinary O-mode injection of 8.2 GHz radio frequency (RF) power. Waveguides, as an alternative to mirror polarizers for transmitting RF X-mode power from LFS to HFS for EBW conversion, were used instead of the installation of an RF mirror. Testing of LFS-to-HFS RF power transmission at 8.2 GHz, using an RG-50-type vacuum waveguide in a bench-scale device filled with SF6 gas at 0.03 Mpa, revealed that an RF power of 10.8 kW could traverse the fundamental electron cyclotron resonance layer for 60 s without breakdown. The short-length, open-ended waveguide antenna used in the HFS injection-induced wave diffraction reduced the efficiency of power delivery to the upper hybrid resonance (UHR) by approximately 7% at an electron temperature of 50 eV. The HFS injection was able to produce brighter camera images than the standard LFS injection. The location of the UHR, as estimated by measuring the density with an interferometer, agreed with its location as measured by plasma radiation low-field, side-edge positions shown by fast camera imaging. This indicates that the plasma was produced by mode-converted EBW. The HFS injection had an absorption efficiency of 96%, compared to 40% for LFS. A greater fluctuation of floating potential adjustable to the lower hybrid wave (LHW) was observed in the HFS case by installing a Langmuir probe, confirming that EBW conversion efficiency was higher in the HFS case. Moreover, after setting the poloidal field to B PF = 7.6 mT, plasma current (I P ) in the HFS peaked at 1.3 kA, as opposed to 0.3 kA for LFS, despite LFS injection having a total power of 55 kW, compared to 40 kW for HFS. However, as the impurity level was comparatively high, it is believed that this I P is dominated by pressure-drive, which makes it difficult to analyze EBWCD. Finally, the line-integrated density in the HFS injection peaked at 1.6 × 10 18 m -2 , compared to 8 × 10 17 m -2 in the LFS one.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2026

Simulation of electron Bernstein waves using FullWave with a 2D non-local hot plasma model

Hot plasma wave simulation capability is expanded in the FullWave code by updating the hybrid iterative solver in the code with a semi-implicit time stepping method. The new approach is used to simulate Electron Bernstein Wave (EBW) heating in over-dense spherical tokamak plasmas. The code’s hybrid iterative solver circumvents the prohibitive memory cost of direct methods by combining a time evolution of Maxwell’s equations with frequency-domain relaxation, while the conductivity kernel, calculated via 3D particle tracking, captures the essential non-local wave–particle interactions. One-dimensional EBW simulations verify the algorithm’s accuracy by demonstrating mode conversion from X-mode wave to EBW at the upper hybrid resonance and a strong cyclotron damping near the plasma core. Two-dimensional simulation reproduces the predicted short EBW wavelength and quantitatively matches the hot-plasma dispersion relation. This study demonstrates the fidelity of the hybrid solver for the electron cyclotron frequency range.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2018

An electron Bernstein wave heating scheme for the Proto-MPEX linear device

Linear plasma devices, such as the Prototype Material Plasma Exposure eXperiment (Proto-MPEX), are an economic method to study plasma-material interactions under high heat and particle fluxes. The Proto-MPEX device at Oak Ridge National Laboratory is a high-density helicon plasma generator with additional resonant electron heating to study plasma-material interactions in ITER-like conditions. Here, we present modeling results of an electron Bernstein wave (EBW) heating scheme for this device using a microwave-based system. A 28 GHz injection system is available to provide power levels up to 100 kW injected into low electron temperature and high electron density plasmas. A modified version of the GENRAY ray-tracing code, GENRAY-C, has been used to determine the EBW and electron cyclotron heating wave accessibility for these overdense plasmas. Modeling has shown that greater than 80% of mode conversion from the ordinary mode to the EBW is possible for 28 GHz injection in Proto-MPEX. Calculations show that by utilizing the effects of Doppler-shifted resonance absorption, power deposition near the core is possible. Finally, significant collisional damping, leading to edge absorption, is expected to occur for neutral pressures >1.0 mTorr; however, experiments can be designed to minimize these effects.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2015

Response to “Comment on ‘Generalized dispersion relation for electron Bernstein waves in a non-Maxwellian magnetized anisotropic plasma’” [Phys. Plasmas 22, 024701 (2015)]

Sharifi and Parvazian have presented comments on our paper by questioning the validity of the results. The plots of different curves of kappa and (r, q) distributions produced by them are incorrect. They pretended as if we have made claim that our results are valid for large arguments of product of Bessel Function, whereas Neumann's series expansion is valid only for small arguments. In our paper, no claim is made that the results are valid for all values of b. Our results are valid only for b ≪ 1. The results plotted by the commenters are incorrect and in this response we are presenting correct plots of dispersion curves.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2018

Parametric Mechanism of Anomalous Microwave Power Absorption in Experiments on Electron Cyclotron Heating in Toroidal Magnetic Traps

The nonlinear stage of the parametric decay instability of an extraordinary wave is analyzed in the presence of a nonmonotonic density profile. The decay excites an electron Bernstein wave, which is localized in the vicinity of a local density maximum, and an ion Bernstein wave, which leaves a nonlinear interaction region and is absorbed by ions in the vicinity of the harmonics of the ion cyclotron frequency. The main mechanism of instability saturation is considered to be a cascade of decays of a primary daughter electron Bernstein wave, which leads to the excitation of localized secondary electron Bernstein waves and ion cyclotron (Bernstein) waves. The localization of electron Bernstein waves causes a significant decrease in the secondary- decay excitation threshold, which is thought to provide saturation of the primary instability at the lowest level. The saturation of the primary parametric decay instability of a pump wave and the anomalous absorption of the pump power are analytically estimated. A numerical simulation is performed using the parameters that are typical of the experiments on the electron cyclotron resonance heating of plasma at the second resonance harmonic in TCV tokamak.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2014

Excitation of electrostatic waves in the electron cyclotron frequency range during magnetic reconnection in laboratory overdense plasmas

We report the observation of electromagnetic radiation at high harmonics of the electron cyclotron frequency that was considered to be converted from electrostatic waves called electron Bernstein waves (EBWs) during magnetic reconnection in laboratory overdense plasmas. The excitation of EBWs was attributed to the thermalization of electrons accelerated by the reconnection electric field around the X-point. The radiative process discussed here is an acceptable explanation for observed radio waves pulsation associated with major flares.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2014

The low threshold parametric decay instabilities leading to anomalous phenomena at ECRH in toroidal devices

A possibility of 3D electron Bernstein wave trapping in intensive magnetic field aligned density fluctuation or blob in toroidal plasma is demonstrated. Semi-analytic approach for description of associated plasma cavity is developed. A mechanism of low-threshold parametric decay instability driven by 2{sup nd} harmonic extraordinary pump microwave and leading to excitation of localized electron Bernstein wave and low frequency heavily damped oscillations is proposed and analyzed.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2014

MHD simulation of RF current drive in MST

Auxiliary heating and current drive using RF waves such as the electron Bernstein wave (EBW) promises to advance the performance of the reversed field pinch (RFP). In previous computational work [1], a hypothetical edge-localized current drive is shown to suppress the tearing activity which governs the macroscopic transport properties of the RFP. The ideal conditions for tearing stabilization include a reduced toroidal induction, and precise width and radial position of the Gaussian-shaped external current drive. In support of the EBW experiment on the Madison Symmetric Torus, an integrated modeling scheme now incorporates ray tracing and Fokker-Plank predictions of auxiliary current into single fluid MHD. Simulations at low Lundquist number (S ∼ 10{sup 4}) generally agree with the previous work; significantly more burdensome simulations at MST-like Lundquist number (S ∼ 3×10{sup 6}) show unexpected results. The effect on nonlinearly saturated current profile by a particular RF-driven external force decreases in magnitude and widens considerably as the Lundquist number increases toward experimental values. Simulations reproduce the periodic current profile relaxation events observed in experiment (sawteeth) in the absence of current profile control. Reduction of the tearing mode amplitudes is still observable; however, reduction is limited to periods between the large bursts of magnetic activity at each sawtooth. The sawtoothing pattern persists with up to 10 MW of externally applied RF power. Periods with prolonged low tearing amplitude are predicted with a combination of external current drive and a reduced toroidal loop voltage, consistent with previous conclusions. Finally, the resistivity profile is observed to have a strong effect on the optimal externally driven current profile for mode stabilization.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2018

Mode-conversion of the extraordinary wave at the upper hybrid resonance in the presence of small-amplitude density fluctuations

We report in spherical tokamaks, the electron plasma frequency is greater than the electron cyclotron (EC) frequency. Electromagnetic waves in the EC range of frequencies are unsuitable for directly heating such plasmas due to their reduced accessibility. However, mode-conversion of the extraordinary wave to the electron Bernstein wave (X–B mode-conversion) at the upper hybrid resonance makes it possible to efficiently couple externally-launched electromagnetic wave energy into an overdense plasma core. Traditional mode-conversion models describe an X-mode wave propagating in a potential containing two cutoffs that bracket a single wave resonance. Often, however, the mode-conversion region is in the edge, where turbulent fluctuations and blobs can generate abrupt cutoffs and scattering of the incident X-mode wave. We present a new framework for studying the X–B mode-conversion which makes the inclusion of these fluctuations analytically tractable. In the new approach, the high-field cutoff is modeled as an infinite barrier, which manifests as a boundary condition applied to a wave equation involving only one cutoff adjacent to the resonance on the low-field side. The new model reproduces the main features of the previous approach, yet is more suitable for analyzing experimental observations and extrapolating to higher dimensions. We then develop an analytical estimate for the effect of small-amplitude, quasi-monochromatic density fluctuations on the X–B mode-conversion efficiency using perturbation theory. We find that Bragg backscattering of the launched X-mode wave reduces the mode-conversion efficiency significantly when the fluctuation wavenumber is resonant with the wavenumber of the incident X-mode wave. These analytical results are corroborated by numerically integrating the mode-conversion equations.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2019

Mode-conversion of the extraordinary wave at the upper hybrid resonance in the presence of small-amplitude density fluctuations

In spherical tokamaks, the electron plasma frequency is greater than the electron cyclotron frequency. Electromagnetic waves in the electron cyclotron range of frequencies are unsuitable for directly heating such plasmas due to their reduced accessibility. However, mode-conversion of the extraordinary wave to the electron Bernstein wave (X-B mode-conversion) at the upper hybrid resonance makes it possible to efficiently couple externally-launched electromagnetic wave energy into an overdense plasma core. Traditional mode-conversion models describe an X-mode wave propagating in a potential containing two cutoffs that bracket a single wave resonance. Often, however, the mode-conversion region is in the edge, where turbulent fluctuations and blobs can generate abrupt cutoffs and scattering of the incident X-mode wave. We present a new framework for studying the X-B mode-conversion which makes the inclusion of these fluctuations analytically tractable. In the new approach, the high- field cutoff is modelled as an infinite barrier, which manifests as a boundary condition applied to a wave equation involving only one cutoff adjacent to the resonance on the low-field side. The new model reproduces the main features of the previous approach, yet is more suitable for analyzing experimental observations and extrapolating to higher dimensions. We then develop an analytical estimate for the effect of small-amplitude, quasi-monochromatic density fluctuations on the X-B mode-conversion efficiency using perturbation theory. We find that Bragg backscattering of the launched X-mode wave reduces the mode-conversion efficiency significantly when the fluctuation wavenumber is resonant with the wavenumber of the incident X-mode wave. These analytical results are corroborated by numerically integrating the mode-conversion equations.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2018

Regarding the optimization of O1-mode ECRH and the feasibility of EBW startup on NSTX-U

Recently published scenarios for fully non-inductive startup and operation on the National SphericalTorus eXperiment Upgrade (NSTX-U) (Menard et al 2012 Nucl. Fusion 52 083015) show ElectronCyclotron Resonance Heating (ECRH) as an important component in preparing a target plasma forefficient High Harmonic Fast Wave and Neutral Beam heating. The modeling of the propagation andabsorption of EC waves in the evolving plasma is required to define the most effective window ofoperation, and to optimize the launcher geometry for maximal heating and current drive during thiswindow. Here, we extend a previous optimization of O1-mode ECRH on NSTX-U to account for thefull time-dependent performance of the ECRH using simulations performed with TRANSP. We findthat the evolution of the density profile has a prominent role in the optimization by defining the timewindow of operation, which in certain cases may be a more important metric to compare launcherperformance than the average power absorption. This feature cannot be captured by analysis on staticprofiles, and should be accounted for when optimizing ECRH on any device that operates near thecutoff density. Additionally, the utility of the electron Bernstein wave (EBW) in driving current andgenerating closed flux surfaces in the early startup phase has been demonstrated on a number ofdevices. Using standalone GENRAY simulations, we find that efficient EBW current drive ispossible on NSTX-U if the injection angle is shifted below the midplane and aimed towards the tophalf of the vacuum vessel. However, collisional damping of the EBW is projected to be significant, insome cases accounting for up to 97% of the absorbed EBW power

Electron Bernstein wave↗
DOE OSTI2013

Kinetic simulation of the O-X conversion process in dense magnetized plasmas

One scheme for heating a dense magnetized plasma core, such as in a tokamak, involves launching an ordinary (O) electromagnetic wave at the low density edge. It is converted to a reflected extraordinary (X) electromagnetic wave under certain conditions, and then transformed into an electron Bernstein wave able to reach high density regions inaccessible to most other waves. The O-X mode conversion is important in heating and diagnostic processes in different devices such as tokamaks, stellarators, and some types of pinches. The goal of this study has been to demonstrate that the kinetic particle-in-cell (PIC) scheme is suitable for modeling the O-X conversion process as the first step toward a more complete simulation of O-X-B heating. The O-X process is considered and simulated with a kinetic particle model for parameters of the TJ-II stellarator using the PIC code, XOOPIC. This code is able to model the non-monotonic density and the magnetic profile of the TJ-II stellarator. It can also statistically represent the self-consistent distribution function of the plasma, which has not been possible in previous fluid models. By considering the electric and magnetic components of launched and reflected waves, the O-mode and X-mode waves can be detected, and the O-X conversion can be demonstrated. In this work, the optimum angle for conversion efficiency, as predicted by the previous theory and experimentally confirmed, is used. Via considering the power of the launched O-mode wave and the converted X-mode wave, the efficiency of 63% for O-X conversion for the optimum theoretical launch angle of 47{sup ∘} is obtained, which is in good agreement with efficiencies computed via full-wave simulations.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2014

Physics design of a 28 GHz electron heating system for the National Spherical Torus experiment upgrade

A megawatt-level, 28 GHz electron heating system is being designed to support non-inductive (NI) plasma current (I{sub p}) start-up and local heating and current drive (CD) in H-mode discharges in the National Spherical Torus Experiment Upgrade (NSTX-U). The development of fully NI I{sub p} start-up and ramp-up is an important goal of the NSTXU research program. 28 GHz electron cyclotron (EC) heating is predicted to rapidly increase the central electron temperature (T{sub e}(0)) of low density NI plasmas generated by Coaxial Helicity Injection (CHI). The increased T{sub e}(0) will significantly reduce the I{sub p} decay rate of CHI plasmas, allowing the coupling of fast wave heating and neutral beam injection. Also 28 GHz electron Bernstein wave (EBW) heating and CD can be used during the I{sub p} flat top in NSTX-U discharges when the plasma is overdense. Ray tracing and Fokker-Planck numerical simulation codes have been used to model EC and EBW heating and CD in NSTX-U. This paper presents a pre-conceptual design for the 28 GHz heating system and some of the results from the numerical simulations.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2026

Understanding cold electron impact on parallel-propagating whistler chorus waves via moment-based quasilinear theory

Earth's magnetosphere hosts a wide range of collisionless particle populations that interact through various wave-particle processes. Among these, cold electrons, with energies below 100 eV, often dominate the plasma density but remain poorly characterized due to measurement challenges such as spacecraft charging and photoelectron contamination. Understanding the contribution of these cold populations to wave–particle interaction is of significant interest. Recent kinetic simulations identified a secondary drift-driven instability, in which parallel-propagating whistler-mode chorus waves excite oblique electrostatic whistler waves near the resonance cone and Bernstein-mode turbulence. These secondary modes enable a new channel of energy transfer from the parallel-propagating whistler wave to the cold electrons. In this work, we develop a moment-based quasilinear theory of the secondary instabilities to quantify such energy exchange. Our results show that these secondary instabilities persist for a wide range of parameters and, in many cases, lead to nearly complete damping of the primary wave. Such secondary instability might limit the amplitude of parallel-propagating whistler waves in Earth's magnetosphere and might explain why high-amplitude oblique whistler or electron Bernstein waves are rarely observed simultaneously with high-amplitude field-aligned whistler waves in the inner magnetosphere.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗