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At least 19 records

A topological approach to magnetic nulls

Magnetic nulls are locations where the magnetic field vanishes. They determine to a large degree the magnetic connectivity in a system, and are sites of magnetic reconnection. We describe a novel approach to understanding movement, appearance, and disappearance of nulls in magnetic fields. This approach is based on the concept of isotropes, or lines where the field direction is constant. These lines are streamlines of a vector field whose flux is sourced by the topological indices of nulls, and can be conceptualized as corresponding to ‘lines of force’ between nulls. We show how this topological approach can be used to generate analytical expressions for the location of nulls in the presence of external fields for dipoles and for a field defined by the Hopf fibration.

magnetic null↗

Magnetic nulls in interacting dipolar fields

The prominence of nulls in reconnection theory is due to the expected singular current density and the indeterminacy of field lines at a magnetic null. Electron inertia changes the implications of both features. Magnetic field lines are distinguishable only when their distance of closest approach exceeds a distance Δ d . Electron inertia ensures Δ d ≳ c/ω pe . The lines that lie within a magnetic flux tube of radius Δ d at the place where the field strength B is strongest are fundamentally indistinguishable. If the tube, somewhere along its length, encloses a point where B = 0 vanishes, then distinguishable lines come no closer to the null than ≈ (a 2 c/ω pe ) 1/3 , where a is a characteristic spatial scale of the magnetic field. Here, the behaviour of the magnetic field lines in the presence of nulls is studied for a dipole embedded in a spatially constant magnetic field. In addition to the implications of distinguishability, a constraint on the current density at a null is obtained, and the time required for thin current sheets to arise is derived.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

EUV debris mitigation using magnetic nulls

Next generation EUV sources for photolithography use light produced by laser-produced plasmas (LPP) from ablated tin droplets. A major challenge for extending the lifetime of these devices is mitigating damage caused by deposition of tin debris on the sensitive collection mirror. Especially difficult to stop are high energy (up to 10 keV) highly charged tin ions created in the plasma. Existing solutions include the use of stopping gas, electric fields, and magnetic fields. One common configuration consists of a magnetic field perpendicular to the EUV emission direction, but such a system can result in ion populations that are trapped rather than removed. Here we investigate a previously unconsidered mitigation geometry consisting of a magnetic null by performing full-orbit integration of the ion trajectories in an EUV system with realistic dimensions and optimize the coil locations for the null configuration. The magnetic null prevents a fraction of ions from hitting the mirror comparable to that of the perpendicular field, but does not trap any ions due to the chaotic nature of ion trajectories that pass close to the null. This technology can potentially improve LPP-based EUV photolithography system efficiency and lifetime and may allow for a different, more efficient formulation of buffer gas.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Magnetohydrodynamic Wave Mode Conversion in a Pseudostreamer Structure

The interaction of a fast magnetoacoustic wave with a magnetic null point in a pseudostreamer magnetic configuration is modeled. The incident fast wave is excited by an impulsive velocity driver located in the corona outside the Alfvén-acoustic equipartition layer. The fast wave front experiences refraction and wraps around the null point, while the front segment approaching the null point along the magnetic bisector passes through it. In the equipartition layer surrounding the null point, part of the fast wave energy is converted into slow magnetoacoustic waves. Slow waves propagate outward from the null point along the magnetic separatrices. The fronts of slow waves exhibit a characteristic chevron shape. The fast-to-slow mode conversion efficiency increases with the width of the initial perturbation, following a power-law dependence with an index of approximately 1.06. For initial wave amplitudes below about 10% of the local Alfvén speed, the dependence of the conversion efficiency on the initial amplitude is weak. After interacting with the null point, the amplitudes of the fast waves decrease significantly owing to energy conversion and the spreading of wave energy over a broad spatial domain. In contrast, the energy of slow waves remains concentrated in the vicinity of the magnetic separatrices, resulting in less pronounced geometric attenuation of these waves. These findings are consistent with observational reports of the interaction of a coronal fast wave with a pseudostreamer.

Zhong, Yu [Univ. of Warwick, Coventry (United King↗

Interpreting ion-energy distributions using charge exchange emitted from deeply kinetic field-reversed-configuration plasmas

Energy resolving the atomic hydrogen outflux created within plasmas by charge exchange (CX) of hot plasma ions with cooler hydrogen neutrals is used to infer the ion energy distribution within the plasma, IED p . In high- β plasma with field nulls and ion gyro-radii comparable to the plasma size, the measured ion energy distribution (IED m ) of the CX outflux will depend on the viewing angle and position of the detector. Here, we describe the physics for this, results from a synthetic diagnostic code that contrasts the IED m to the IED p within relatively small and hot field-reversed-configuration plasmas, and how these data can show the presence of magnetic nulls and different orbit classes in the plasma.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Statistical analysis of magnetic divertor configuration influence on H-mode transitions

DIII-D plasmas are compared for two upper divertor configurations: with the outer strike point on the small angle slot (SAS) divertor target and with the outer strike point on the horizontal divertor target (HT). Scanning the vertical distance between the magnetic null point and the divertor target over a range 0.10–0.16 m is shown to increase the threshold power, $P_\mathrm{th}$, and edge plasma power, $P_\mathrm{Loss},$ for the low-to-high confinement (L–H) and H–L transitions respectively, by up to a factor of 1.4. The X-point height scans were performed at three L-mode core plasma line average electron densities, $\bar{n}_\mathrm{e} = $ 1.2, 2.2 and 3.6 $\times 10^{19}\,\mathrm{m}^{-3}$, to investigate the density dependence of divertor magnetic configuration influence on $P_\mathrm{th}$. The X-point height, $Z_\textrm{x-pt}$, was further extended across the range 0.16–0.22 m with the more open HT divertor configuration, for which a clear decrease in $P_\mathrm{th}$ with increasing $Z_\textrm{x-pt}$ is observed. The dependence of $P_\textrm{th}$ on divertor magnetic geometry is further investigated using a time-dependent probability density function (PDF) model and information geometry to elucidate the roles played by pedestal plasma turbulence and perpendicular velocity flows. The degree of stochasticity of the plasma turbulence is observed to be sensitive to the plasma heating rate. The calculated square of the information rate shows changes in the relative density fluctuations and perpendicular velocity PDFs begin 2–5 ms prior to the L–H transition for three plasmas; providing a crucial measurement of the dynamic timescale of external transport barrier formation. Additionally, both information length and rate provide potential predictors of the L–H transition for these plasmas.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Empirical probability and machine learning analysis of m , n = 2, 1 tearing mode onset parameter dependence in DIII-D H-mode scenarios

m, n = 2, 1 tearing mode onset empirical probability and machine learning analyses of a multiscenario DIII-D database of over 14 000 H-mode discharges show that the normalized plasma beta, the rotation profile, and the magnetic equilibrium shape have the strongest impact on the 2,1 tearing mode stability, in qualitative agreement with neoclassical tearing modes (m and n are the poloidal and toroidal mode numbers, respectively). In addition, 2,1 tearing modes are most likely to destabilize when n > 1 tearing modes are already present in the core plasma. The covariance matrix of tearing sensitive plasma parameters takes a nearly block-diagonal form, with the blocks incorporating thermodynamic, current and safety factor profile, separatrix shape, and plasma flow parameters, respectively. This suggests a number of paths to improved stability at fixed pressure and edge safety factor primarily by preserving a minimum of 1 kHz differential rotation, increasing the minimum safety factor above unity, using upper single null magnetic configuration, and reducing the core impurity radiation. In addition, lower triangularity, lower elongation, and lower pedestal pressure may also help to improve stability. Furthermore, the electron and ion temperature, collisionality, resistivity, internal inductance, and the parallel current gradient appear to only weakly correlate with the 2,1 tearing mode onsets in this database.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Divertor detachment characterization in negative triangularity discharges in DIII-D via 2D edge-plasma transport modeling

Edge fluid modeling of the first divertor-plasma detachment experiments in negative triangularity (NT) discharges in the DIII-D tokamak is presented using the 2D multifluid edge transport code UEDGE, including cross-field particle drifts. Experiments were performed where the lower single-null magnetic equilibrium had a strong NT (δ≈−0.5), that is, where the magnetic X-point is at a larger major radius than the core magnetic axis. Divertor-plasma detachment was induced by increasing the core plasma density in DIII-D via intrinsic gas puffing. Here density scans are performed with UEDGE to reach a detached plasma and to quantitatively recover the experimental rollover of the ion saturation current on the outer divertor target plate. The simulations cover experiments with both signs of the toroidal magnetic field, B T , where the ion magnetic Grad-B drifts are directed into (forward B T ) and out of (reverse B T ) the divertor region. Consistent with experiments with neutral beam power injection, the NT simulations reproduce: 40% higher density is needed to reach detachment onset with forward B T compared with reverse B T , and the absence of deep detachment is found with reverse B T . Similarly, comparison between Ohmic discharges in NT and positive triangularity (PT) shaping confirms that a substantially higher density is needed to achieve detachment in NT than in PT, with NT requiring an line-average density of at least the Greenwald density or higher. Simulation results suggest that higher densities are needed to reach detachment in negative compared to PT because these discharges have a shorter midplane-to-target distance along the total magnetic field B, a shorter outer divertor poloidal leg length (0.06 m vs 0.2 m), and reduced radial transport [near-scrape-off layer (SOL) D ⊥ /χ ⊥ =0.3/0.5 vs D ⊥ /χ ⊥ =1.0/1.0, all in (m 2 /s)].

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Simulation of the SPARC plasma boundary with the UEDGE code

Here in this work, the UEDGE edge transport code is used to examine conditions in the SPARC divertor and edge plasma for various levels of carbon impurity and power from the core (P SOL ). A double-null magnetic configuration is simulated assuming up-down symmetry in geometry and physics. The anomalous heat and particle transport coefficients are tuned to match empirical predictions for SPARC's midplane density profiles, target plate heat flux profiles, and inner/outer divertor power sharing. Convective transport is included on the low-field side, while on the high-field side the transport is modeled as purely diffusive. Hydrogen neutrals are modeled as a fluid with inertial effects, and a carbon impurity is included using the fixed-fraction model. We find that detachment induced by impurity seeding could significantly reduce the heat flux to the divertor surfaces in the SPARC tokamak. At P SOL = 28 MW (the value predicted for SPARC's full-power H-mode scenario) cases with both divertor legs detached were obtained with a carbon impurity fraction between 0.3%–1.4%, far below Z eff limits for SPARC. When the plasma in the outer leg is detached, the peak heat flux density perpendicular to the target plate is below 1 MW m -2 , electron and ion temperatures are less than 1.5 eV, and momentum detachment is observed. However, the detachment state is found to be sensitive to the side-wall boundary conditions, the level of neutral pumping, and the target plate tilt. Finally, a broadly similar SOLPS simulation of SPARC is used to assess the appropriateness of the simpler impurity and neutral models used in UEDGE.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

The effect of plasma shaping on high density H-mode SOL profiles and fluctuations in TCV

Abstract The impact of plasma shaping on the properties of high density H-mode scrape-off layer (SOL) profiles and transport at the outer midplane has been investigated on Tokamakà configuration variable. The experimental dataset has been acquired by evolving the upper triangularity while keeping the other parameters constant. The scan comprises δ u p values between 0.0 and 0.6, excluding negative triangularity scenarios. Within this study, a transition from type-I edge localised modes to the quasi-continuous exhaust regime takes place from low to high δ u p . The modification of the upstream SOL profiles has been assessed, in terms of separatrix quantities, within the α t turbulence control parameter theoretical framework (Eich et al 2020 Nucl. Fusion 60 056016). The target parallel heat load and the upstream near-SOL density profiles have been shown to broaden significantly for increasing α t . Correspondingly, in the far SOL a density shoulder formation is observed when moving from low to high δ u p . These behaviours have been correlated with an enhancement of the SOL fluctuation level, as registered by wall-mounted Langmuir probes as well as the thermal helium beam diagnostic. Specifically, both the background and the filamentary-induced fluctuating parts of the first wall ion saturation current signal are larger at higher δ u p , with filaments being ejected more frequently into the SOL. Comparison of two pulses at the extremes of the δ u p scan range, but with otherwise same input parameters, shows that the midplane neutral pressure does not change much during the H-mode phase of the discharge. This indicates that indirect effects of the change in geometry, linked to first wall recycling sources, should not play a significant role. The total core radiation increases at high δ u p , on account of a stronger plasma–wall interaction and resulting larger carbon impurity intake from the first wall. This is likely associated to the enhanced first wall fluctuations, as well as a smaller outer gap and the close-to-double-null magnetic topology at high shaping.

Stagni, A. (ORCID:0000000180841544)↗

On FIRE mode in KSTAR

We report on the status of Fast Ion Regulated Enhancement (FIRE) mode experiments in the Korea Superconducting Tokamak Advanced Research. This regime is being developed for high-performance, steady-state operation which features a stationary ion internal transport barrier, enabling a central ion temperature approaching 10 keV to be sustained for up to 50 s, without the need for delicate profile control and with no significant impurity accumulation. As its key novelty lies in the significant contribution of fast ions that stabilize core turbulence, the regime has been named FIRE mode. To achieve this regime, neutral beam injection is applied at moderate power levels near the L–H power threshold, while maintaining low plasma density to avoid the L–H transition. The scenario is typically established in diverted magnetic configurations. The core features of FIRE mode were investigated through power balance analysis and fluctuation measurements, revealing a clear transport bifurcation in the ion channel. At the plasma edge, FIRE mode occasionally exhibits I-mode characteristics, particularly in unfavorable magnetic null configurations with q 95 ∼ 4, including the presence of weakly coherent modes. In terms of MHD activity, sawtooth oscillations are observed but appear to be stabilized during the high-performance phase. Fast ion-driven Alfvénic eigenmodes (AEs), indicated by strong frequency chirping near 200 kHz, are also observed. Additionally, lower-frequency MHD activities, distinct from the fast ion-driven AEs, are present and have some influence on plasma performance. The enhancement of core confinement is primarily attributed to fast ion effects, which were evaluated with respect to dilution, alpha stabilization, and resonant interactions with turbulence using gyrokinetic analyses. Among these, the dilution effect was found to be the most dominant. The characteristics of FIRE mode were compared with those of other hot ion plasma scenarios, such as supershot and hot ion mode. While they share many similarities, FIRE mode is distinguished by the accessibility to conditions with T i ≈ T e , presence of I-mode edge features, and its long-duration sustainment. Predictive simulations of FIRE mode were performed using integrated transport modeling with TRIASSIC, employing the TGLF anomalous transport model. These simulations confirmed the critical role of fast ions in achieving this regime. The future prospect of FIRE mode for application in fusion reactors is discussed, with an emphasis on possibly extending the regime to higher density operation.

FIRE mode↗

Modeling Snowflake Divertors in MAST-U Tokamak

We report that in a snowflake (SF) divertor, two magnetic field nulls are placed close to each other, creating four strike points (SPs) compared to two in a standard X-point divertor. In preparation for MAST-U experiments, magnetic configurations with the standard and SF divertors with various locations and separation distances of the nulls were modeled using the two-dimensional multi-fluid code UEDGE with a full plasma transport model featuring charge-state-resolved sputtered carbon impurities. The complex interplay of the plasma transport and magnetic configurations was comprehensively studied using a simple model for the theoretically predicted fast plasma mixing driven by the 'churning' mode instability in the two-null SF region. The modeling results show that (1) all SF-plus configurations and SF-minus configuration with closely located nulls produce the same plasma parameters and heat fluxes at the same SPs; (2) SF divertors approach the outer and inner SP detachment conditions at lower upstream density w.r.t. the standard divertor; (3) heat flux profiles at primary SPs are substantially broadened and peak values are reduced in SF configurations w.r.t. SN divertors; this broadening becomes more pronounced with the fast plasma mixing increase.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Divertor turbulent transport in the single null and snowflake in the TCV tokamak

The relative importance of divertor radial turbulent particle fluxes is considered by comparing it against the fluxes in the main-chamber outer midplane (OMP) in a variety of conditions and divertor geometries in the tokamak à configuration variable. Within the first power falloff length, the radial turbulent fluxes in the leg of the outer divertor are consistently found to be small, and about 1/5th the magnitude measured at the OMP. In a low-density single null divertor, magnetic shear is found to play a strong role in isolating the main-chamber turbulence from the divertor. The snowflake divertor is purported to have turbulence-enhancing properties in the volume between the two X-points but was instead found to further reduce the divertor turbulent fluxes compared to the single null. Depending on the collisionality, the electric field fluctuations and radial turbulent fluxes were higher near the X-point than at the outer midplane, which is likely due to the binormal compression of the flux bundles consistent with analytical models of the resistive X-point mode. Density and potential fluctuation amplitudes decrease monotonically with distance from the OMP with a slope that depends on collisionality.

Physics↗

Simulations of the churning mode: Toroidally symmetric plasma convection and turbulence around the X-points in a snowflake divertor

Using a reduced MHD model, extended to include field-aligned thermal conduction, we present numerical simulations of the churning mode (CM): a toroidally symmetric, non-linear plasma vortex in the vicinity of the null points in a snowflake (SF) divertor [D. D. Ryutov et al., Phys. Scr. 89, 088002 (2014)]. Simulations are carried out across a range of inter-null separations, d xx ⁠, and inter-null orientations, θ⁠, primarily in conditions relevant to the MAST-U tokamak. We find that, when d xx is small, the CM induces additional transport across the X-points when β pm ≳8%, where β pm is the ratio of the plasma pressure in the null region to poloidal magnetic pressure at the midplane. This transport also increases approximately linearly as d xx is reduced. A diffusive model of this transport is shown to predict the total transport across the null points, where diffusion coefficients of up to ∼ 10 2 m 2 s −1 centered on a small region around the X-points are used. However, the CM also results in significant changes to the flux surfaces in the null region, which is not captured by this diffusive model. The changes in magnetic geometry mean the fractional exhaust power delivered to each divertor leg is highly sensitive to β pm ⁠, d xx ⁠, and θ⁠. For small values of θ⁠, the CM can induce a change in topology, redirecting exhaust power from a secondary divertor leg on the high field side to one on the low field side. Similar behavior is found in the fraction of exhaust power going to the inner and outer divertor. Such changes in the flux surfaces may not be captured by Grad–Shafranov solvers and so may be a source of error in the magnetic reconstruction of SF experiments. We consistently find that the fractional exhaust power going to a secondary divertor leg on the high field side is small, consistent with SF experiments.

Computer simulation↗

Impurity screening behavior of the high-field side scrape-off layer in near-double-null configurations: prospect for mitigating plasma-material interactions on RF actuators and first-wall components

The impurity screening response of the high-field side (HFS) scrape-off layer (SOL) to localized nitrogen injection is investigated on Alcator C-Mod for magnetic equilibria spanning lower-single null, double-null and upper single null configurations under otherwise identical plasma conditions. L-mode, EDA H-mode and I-mode discharges are investigated. HFS impurity screening is found to depend on magnetic flux balance and the direction of B×?B relative to the most active divertor. Impurity ‘plume’ emission patterns indicate that both parallel and perpendicular (E×B) flows in the SOL contribute to the ‘flushing’ of impurities towards the active divertor, thereby affecting the overall impurity screening behavior. Despite the fact that the HFS scrape-off layer is extremely narrow in near-double-null configurations, this SOL is able to screen locally injected nitrogen at least as effectively as the low-field side (LFS) SOL – up to a factor of 10 more effective, depending on specific plasma conditions and whether the magnetic geometry produces parallel flows that work with or against E×B flows. For situations in which the E×B drift of the impurity ions opposes parallel flow toward the primary divertor, HFS impurity screening is found to be least effective. When E×B drifts assist parallel flow toward the primary divertor, HFS impurity screening is found to be very effective. These data support the idea of placing RF actuators and close-fitting wall components on the high-field side of the tokamak. With this configuration, near-double-null magnetic topologies may be used for active control of plasma parameters at the antenna/plasma interface for optimal RF coupling, mitigate the generation of local impurities from plasma-material interactions and, taking advantage of favorable plasma flows and good screening properties of the HFS SOL, further minimize the impact of wall-born impurity sources on the plasma core.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Fuel recycling control in long pulse operation with full tungsten divertors in EAST tokamak

Fuel recycling control in long pulse discharges is studied in EAST tokamak with tungsten divertors by particle balance. Double null configuration, proper Resonant Magnetic Perturbation (RMP), divertor cryopumps and realtime lithium injection, are all very effective for recycling control. High heating power discharge leads to low recycling due to the enhancement of particle exhausting. High external gas injection is required in a low fuel recycling discharge to keep a constant density, and Dα emission is increased by external injection, therefore a higher Dα emission may indicate low fuel recycling for the same plasma density. Reproducible long pulse discharges of over 100 s with core electron temperature >10 keV, and 1056 s discharge with ~1.5 MW heating power were obtained in the EAST 2021 campaign, fuel recycling was well controlled by divertor cryopumps and realtime lithium injection. The results provide a valuable reference for the high power and long pulse operation in future fusion reactors, such as ITER and CFETR.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Ion-rich Acceleration during an Eruptive Flux Rope Event in a Multiple Null-point Configuration

We report on the γ-ray emission above 100 MeV from the GOES M3.3 flare SOL2012-06-03. The hard X-ray (HXR) and microwave emissions have typical time profiles with a fast rise to a well-defined peak followed by a slower decay. The >100 MeV emission during the prompt phase displayed a double-peaked temporal structure with the first peak following the HXR and microwaves, and the second one, about 3 times stronger, occurring 17 ± 2 s later. The time profiles seem to indicate two separate acceleration mechanisms at work, where the second γ-ray peak reveals a potentially pure or at least largely dominant ion acceleration. The Atmospheric Imaging Assembly imaging shows a bright elliptical ribbon and a transient brightening in the northwestern (NW) region. Nonlinear force-free extrapolations at the time of the impulsive peaks show closed field lines connecting the NW region to the southeastern part of the ribbon, and the magnetic topology revealed clusters of nulls. These observations suggest a spine-and-fan geometry, and based on these observations, we interpret the second γ-ray peak as being due to the predominant acceleration of ions in a region with multiple null points. The >100 MeV emission from this flare also exhibits a delayed phase with an exponential decay of roughly 350 s. We find that the delayed emission is consistent with ions being trapped in a closed flux tube with gradual escape via their loss cone to the chromosphere.

Pesce-Rollins, Melissa [Istituto Nazionale di Fisi↗

Permanent magnets for ELM suppression in tokamaks: feasibility and operational compatibility

Permanent magnets can provide static magnetic fields without power supplies or feed lines, offering a simpler alternative to conventional electromagnets in tokamaks. This work examines permanent magnet arrays (PMAs) for edge localized mode (ELM) control in double-null (DN) configurations, where traditional RMP coils exhibit limited effectiveness. Linear plasma response calculations using IPEC assess high-field-side (HFS) permanent magnet placement, benchmarking performance against DIII-D low-field-side (LFS) internal coils (I-coils) while evaluating engineering constraints. Modeling results demonstrate that HFS permanent magnet configurations generate HFS plasma response amplitudes more than 5 times larger than conventional I-coil systems. While other resonant response metrics show comparable or reduced response relative to I-coils, the combination of conventional RMP systems and permanent magnets is expected to provide enhanced performance. Operational impact assessments of persistent magnetic fields, including sideband field effects and startup/ramp-up compatibility, reveal acceptable performance within established operational boundaries. This analysis establishes PMAs as a technically viable approach for DN ELM control with reductions in system complexity, motivating further experimental validation on existing tokamak facilities.

3D magnetic perturbation↗