Migration and balance of 13C in the stellarator Wendelstein 7-X after 13CH[formula omitted] local injection into the island divertor

Abstract

A 13C tracer experiment was carried out to investigate impurity transport and migration in the stellarator Wendelstein 7-X (W7-X). About 4.0 × 1022 molecules of 13C marked methane were injected through the divertor gas injection system during plasma operation. After the experiment, the divertor target elements were extracted to be analyzed by post-mortem methods. In particular, the results of the Nuclear Reaction Analysis are presented, and the 13C balance and predominating contributors to migration are discussed.A two-dimensional 13C deposition pattern on 12C graphite modules was obtained with over 6000 single measurements. The post-mortem analysis results extrapolations show a high local deposition of around 25% of the 13C within a 5 cm radius around the injection holes embedded in a graphite target module of one of the ten divertor units. Additionally, a striation is detected in the toroidal direction along the outer strike line and the net carbon deposition zone along the intersecting magnetic island containing about 23% of the 13C within the same divertor unit where injections were made. The residual 52% of 13C are globally migrated across the machine. In total, ∼ 90% of the injected 13C could be extrapolated by post-mortem analysis. Thus, the 13C balance is closed. The distribution indicates a non-negligible amount of global transport and the strong influence of the magnetic topology on migration. In contrast to the strike line pathway, the transport along the magnetic island only takes place counterclockwise in toroidal direction. These results are used to provide benchmark data for ERO2.0 impurity tracing simulations and to be a reference for impurity migration processes in a stellarator.