Plasma flow and carbon production and circulation with the ergodic divertor of Tore Supra

Abstract

This paper presents a detailed study of carbon production and transport from the ergodic divertor (ED) target plates to the plasma core in the Tore Supra tokamak. Adapted experimental and numerical modelling techniques have been used to describe each of the main phenomena in play. Edge electron density and temperature are measured with Langmuir probes. The C II, C III and Hα emission is measured with optical fibres and cameras. The background plasma flow is calculated consistently with the observed recycling pattern by the neutral transport code EDCOLL for the two magnetic connection schemes of interest (short or long connection lengths). 3D Monte-Carlo modelling of carbon near the neutralizer plate (BBQ code) shows that the transport of carbon ions is governed by the friction force in addition to the electric field. Finally, a simplified 3D test particle model is used to estimate the core penetration fraction of carbon. A high value is found for the carbon screening efficiency (fraction of particles that does not penetrate in the plasma core), in the range 95–97% depending on the edge plasma conditions. This value, combined with the calculated carbon influxes, yields the first quantitative estimate of the carbon core contamination during ED operation. The paper shows that the screening of carbon and core contamination are mainly dependent on the carbon source (partially controlled with the ED) and the plasma flow distribution in the laminar region (magnetic topology and particle drifts).