Recent experiments in the EAST and HT-7 superconducting tokamaks

Abstract

First divertor plasma configuration in Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST) was obtained in the second campaign after the last IAEA meeting. To achieve long pulse diverted plasma discharges, new capabilities including the fully actively water cooled in-vessel components, current drive and heating systems, diagnostics and real-time plasma control algorithm were developed. Pre-programmed shape and feedback control of plasma position and current (RZIP) produced a variety of shaped plasma configurations, covering most of the configurations foreseen at the design stage of the machine. Control algorithm based on real-time equilibrium reconstruction and iso-flux control for the last closed magnetic flux surface (RTEFIT/ISOFLUX) has also been realized. A number of operational issues, such as plasma initiation and ramp up under constraints of superconducting coils were successfully investigated. First LHCD experiments demonstrated long pulse discharges longer than 20 s and nearly full non-inductive current drive. The physical engineering capability on the superconducting magnetic system was assessed by simulating discharges. Since the last IAEA meeting, experiments in HT-7 have been focusing on long pulse operation to support the EAST experiments on both physics and technical aspects. Long pulse discharges up to 400 s have now been achieved in HT-7. Investigation of sawtooth activities in ohmic and LHCD plasmas supports the turbulence model instead of the fast reconnection of the m = 1 magnetic island. Coexistence of electron mode and ion mode in high density ohmic plasmas has been observed by 2D ECE imaging (ECEI) in HT-7. The spectral characteristics of geodesic acoustic mode at the plasma boundary have been investigated by Langmuir probe arrays.