Modeling of toroidal momentum transport induced by neoclassical toroidal viscosity torque for ITER scenarios

Abstract

Neoclassical toroidal viscosity (NTV) torque caused by resonant magnetic perturbation (RMP) and the induced toroidal momentum transport are investigated for International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) scenarios through numerical modeling. The NTV torque is calculated using the NTVTOK code including the bounce-drift resonant effect, and the toroidal rotation evolution is modeled by solving a toroidal momentum transport equation that couples momentum source (NTV torque) and the momentum diffusion effect. The variation of RMP coil phasing (defined as toroidal phase difference between different rows of RMP coils) results in different types of plasma response and hence different features of NTV torque and toroidal momentum transport. The bounce-drift resonant effect enhances NTV torque and induces more significant toroidal rotation variation than simulations that adopt the bounce-averaged NTV model. With the initial rotation of the ITER design, plasma rotation is braked by NTV torque, but it may be sustained at moderate amplitude due to electron contributions to NTV torque. It is also found that initially static or slowly rotating plasma can be accelerated by NTV torque either toward co- Ip or counter- Ip ( Ip indicates plasma current) direction, indicating that NTV torque can be regarded as a momentum source for plasma with low torque injection; for instance, radio-frequency heated plasma.