Observation of acoustic and subacoustic fast particles driven modes in Tore-Supra

Abstract

Energetic particles driven modes are one of the concerns for burning plasmas. On Tore-Supra, fast ions and electrons are generated by the RF heating systems and fast particles driven modes are detected with ECE and reflectometry diagnostics. In ICRH heated plasmas, modes are observed in the acoustic frequency range 30–70 kHz. The observed frequency agrees with the frequency predicted for both geodesic acoustic modes and beta Alfvén eigenmodes (BAE), but their structure and their excitation by fast ions advocate for an identification as BAE. Experimental analysis displays the existence of an excitation threshold depending on various parameters such as the ICRH power, the minority fraction and the density, in agreement with the theoretical prediction resulting from a balance between the fast ion drive and Landau damping by thermal ions. In lower hybrid current drive plasmas, electron fishbones have been detected below 20 kHz. Evolution of the fishbone modes with LH power was studied. Precession fishbones are observed at moderate power to be replaced by a mode at diamagnetic frequency at higher power. Precession fishbone frequency exhibits periodical jumps (0.1 s). These jumps are linked to spontaneous transitions between modes at different wavenumbers and a redistribution of the fast electrons in resonance with these modes. The number of excited modes and their wave number change with the LH power.