Electron Diamagnetic Drift Direction Research Articles

Interaction between MTM and EGAM for Energy and Particle Confinement Inprovements on HL-3 tokamak

Abstract We report the first observation of microtearing mode (MTM) and its interaction with energetic-particle-induced geodesic acoustic mode (EGAM) in the reduction of ambient turbulence, leading to improvements in energy and particle confinements in electron cyclotron resonance heating (ECRH) plasma on HL-3 tokamak. MTM, observed in the magnetic fluctuation spectrum with a frequency range of 80-120 kHz, is found to be driven by the electron temperature gradient. It has been shown that MTM propagates in the electron diamagnetic drift direction with a poloidal normalized wavenumber 0.05 ≤k0ρs≤ 0.17. The n = 0, m = −2 magnetic structure of EGAM with a frequency range of 14-20 kHz is observed in the magnetic fluctuation spectrum, where n and m are the toroidal and poloidal mode numbers, respectively. The VE x B oscillation of EGAM has also been observed in the Doppler reflectometry phase derivative perturbation spectrum. The frequency of EGAM corresponds to half that of the conventional GAM. Bispectral analysis during ECRH shows pairwise interactions among EGAM, MTM and ambient turbulence (low frequency). It has been found that the reduction of ambient turbulence due to MTM and EGAM leads to the improvement of particle and energy confinements. Experimental results on HL-3 show the interaction between MTM and EGAM provides a possible way to the turbulence control for energy and particle confinement improvements in future reactors.

Impurity convection reversal caused by edge localized turbulence for generating a stationary edge radiative layer in the HL-2A tokamak

Abstract Effect of impurity on edge turbulence was investigated on the HL-2A tokamak by using Neon supersonic molecular beam injection (SMBI). For the first time, a stationary radiative layer accompanied by edge localized turbulence lasting more than 100ms is observed at the edge region ρ=0.7-0.9. This duration is much longer than the SMBI pulse length (1.2ms), indicating that the impurity diffusion is on the whole cancelled out by the impurity convection without spreading of the localized turbulence during this period. This implies that the impurity convection is reversed from positive to negative impurity density gradient region. This reversal could be explained by the parallel impurity compression mechanism. The observed turbulence is a broadband electrostatic turbulence (25-70 kHz) propagating in the electron diamagnetic drift direction with normalized poloidal wavenumber of 0.1≤ kθρs≤0.4. It has been found that the excitation of the edge localized turbulence strongly depends on the local collisionality. This feature is qualitatively predicted by the spectral multiscale gyrokinetic turbulence simulation, which suggests that the turbulence could be a dissipative trapped electron mode (DTEM). This experiment demonstrates that mutual interaction between externally injected impurity ions and edge turbulence can generate a stationary edge radiative layer and avoid impurity core accumulation. These results could provide a potential approach for the formation of a stable impurity radiative layer by impurity injection in tokamaks.

Toroidal Alfvén eigenmodes excited by energetic electrons in EAST low-density Ohmic plasmas

Abstract Operation in the quiescent regime with abundant trapped energetic electrons (EEs) has been achieved during the current flattop in EAST low-density Ohmic plasmas. This was facilitated by increasing the electron density to a specified level and subsequently reducing it slowly, resulting in the accumulation of a sufficient number of trapped EEs within the energy range of 150–250 keV. During the phase of decreasing electron density, toroidal Alfvén eigenmodes (TAEs) were observed to be excited by these EEs, with frequencies falling within the range of about 100–300 kHz. The experimental parameters were carefully set to satisfy the resonance conditions for TAE excitation by EEs, aligning well with predictions from ideal MHD theory. Statistical analysis indicated different density dependencies between the frequencies of TAEs and the Alfvén frequencies, due to their different radial excitation positions. The radial positions of the TAEs were found to be influenced by the energy distribution and the evolution of trapped EEs, which in turn were affected by the decay rate of electron density and loop voltage. Measurements of Hard X-rays (HXR) confirmed an energy distribution characterized by a “bump-on-tail” shape, with the TAEs observed near the energy bump. Theoretical considerations also demonstrate the possibility that the e-TAE can be driven unstable under this experiment condition even if the mode does not rotate in the electron-diamagnetic drift direction.

Investigation of electromagnetic fluctuations in a magnetically screened high beta plasma

We report low-frequency electromagnetic turbulence in large-volume plasma devices in a region that receives magnetically screened plasma. The magnetic screen is produced by the activation of a large solenoid that generates a strong magnetic field ( BEEF ) transverse to the background axial magnetic field ( Bz ). The magnetic field strength variation in BEEF controls the plasma diffusion and is responsible for parametric profile modifications in large volume plasma devices. The turbulence is characterized by the observed features of an electromagnetic mode having frequency ordering in the lower hybrid range (f ci < f < f LH). The free energy source for the excited turbulence is believed to be the prevalent finite radial pressure gradient in the system. The excited electromagnetic mode shows typical scales for the wave number, k⊥ ∼ 0.13 cm−1 and frequency f ∼ 6 kHz and propagates with phase velocity comparable to ion acoustic velocity, C s in electron diamagnetic drift direction. It is believed that the low-frequency pressure gradient-driven electromagnetic mode exhibits coupling with the lower hybrid or whistler wave.

Experimental evidence for the drift wave nature of the weakly coherent mode in ASDEX Upgrade I-mode plasmas

The improved energy confinement mode (I-mode) is a potential candidate for future fusion power plants, as it combines ELM-free operation with good confinement. The unusual edge transport and turbulence in this regime is still not fully understood. This study analyzes the turbulent structure of the weakly coherent mode (WCM) in ASDEX Upgrade. Measurements from Doppler back-scattering and a thermal helium beam diagnostic are used to determine velocities of the background plasma and the WCM over multiple discharges. A phase velocity of the WCM of the order of 2–5 km s−1 in the electron diamagnetic drift direction is found, quantitatively close to a drift wave assuming negligible temperature fluctuations. A good agreement with a previously proposed mechanism behind the I-mode regime is observed. This marks the first experimental verification of a specific understanding of the WCM and the I-mode regime.

Isotope effects on transport characteristics of edge and core plasmas heated by neutral beam injection (NBI) in an inward shifted configuration at the Large Helical Device

Isotope effects have been investigated in Neutral Beam Injection (NBI) heated plasmas on the Large Helical Device with similar operational parameters between Hydrogen (H) and Deuterium (D) plasmas. Experimental results show that the global energy confinement has no significant dependence on the isotope mass under similar discharge conditions with nearly the same heating power, line-averaged density ( nˉe ) and magnetic field. For both electron and ion energy transport, the transport coefficients, which are obtained based on local power balance analysis, have analogous profiles between H and D dominant plasmas. For neoclassical χe and χi values, they are almost equal between H and D dominant plasmas in low nˉe discharges, whereas in high nˉe cases they are lower in H plasmas than those in D ones. At low nˉe , the electron and ion thermal transport in both H and D plasmas are dominated by neoclassical transport at a certain zone ( ρ≈0.6−0.85 ), while the anomalous transport process has primary effects in the remaining area, and the density fluctuations exhibit ion temperature gradient mode nature. With increase of nˉe , the anomalous transport becomes prevailing and the density fluctuations propagate along electron diamagnetic drift direction. Bispectral analysis reveals that the H plasma has stronger nonlinear coupling in edge density fluctuations in both low and high density discharges, which is probably due to that the D plasma has stronger damping rate for the nonlinear interaction of turbulence. For a comparative study, the present results have been compared with those observed in the ECRH discharges (Tanaka et al 2019 Nucl. Fusion 59 126040). The reasons for the similarities and dissimilarities between these two different heating manners are not clear yet. To unravel the underlying physics, essential inputs from theories and simulations are required.

Observation of pedestal quasi-coherent mode in Type-I ELMy H-mode of HL-2A tokamak

High confinement mode plasma experiments with Type-I edge localized modes (ELMs) have been carried out on HL-2A tokamak. With neutral beam injection and lower hybrid current drive heating, a quasi-coherent mode (QCM) located at pedestal region has been observed, which exists during the ELM-free stage till the first ELM burst. Analysis based on density and magnetic fluctuations has revealed that the QCM propagating radially outward is electrostatic in nature whose radial wavenumber is kr∼0.5 cm−1 as well as the poloidal wavenumber around kθ∼1.4 cm−1, rotating in electron diamagnetic drift direction. The central frequency of the mode gradually decreases from 50 to 20 kHz, which varies almost linearly with toroidal rotation. Experimental findings indicate that the QCM is excited above a critical electron density gradient in the ELM-free phase during which the latter gradually increases due to the confinement transition. The disappearance of QCM is closely associated with the onset of ELMy H-mode, suggesting that the presence of QCM could potentially delay the occurrence of ELM bursts, consequently supporting the maintenance of an ELM-free operational regime. Moreover, the pedestal region locates more radially outside where the density gradient shows a more spanned region with QCM. A quantitative comparison between experimental measurements and linear GENE gyrokinetic simulations suggests that the dissipative trapped electron mode might be the candidate interpretation of the QCM.

Edge turbulence transport during ELM suppression with n = 4 resonant magnetic perturbation on EAST

The edge turbulence characteristics and the induced radial transport have been investigated in edge localized mode (ELM) suppression by using the 4 resonant magnetic perturbation coils on EAST, with 3.6 and the electron collisionality 0.5. During ELM suppression, the edge turbulence is enhanced dramatically, as measured by the reciprocating probe and the poloidal correlation reflectometry. In the near SOL, the low frequency turbulence (<30 kHz) has a large fluctuation level and propagates along the ion diamagnetic drift direction with a speed of 0.35 km s−1 in the plasma frame; an electromagnetic mode around 120 kHz with a small (∼0.15 cm−1) appears when the ELM is suppressed; weak broadband turbulence between 40–120 kHz propagates in the electron diamagnetic drift direction with a velocity of 3.4 km s−1 in the plasma frame. During the ELM suppression, the radial turbulent particle flux, calculated in both the time and frequency domains, is much higher (can be up to five times) than that in the inter-ELM phase. Furthermore, the low frequency turbulence (<30 kHz) dominates the cross-field particle transport. The 120 kHz electromagnetic mode also contributes to outward particle flux, which is relatively small. A set of CGYRO simulations are performed to illustrate the nature of the 120 kHz electromagnetic mode and the low frequency turbulence, suggesting that the former is the micro-tearing mode and the latter is the ion temperature gradient mode. The bispectral analysis suggests a strong three-wave coupling between the low frequency and high frequency turbulence (>250 kHz), which could be beneficial to form the observed turbulent transport. The estimated upstream cross-field particle flux is consistent with the total particle flux deposited on divertor targets, demonstrating that the enhanced radial turbulent particle transport is an important mechanism for particle exhaust in ELM suppression.

Global gyrokinetic simulation of edge coherent mode in EAST

Linear and nonlinear simulations are carried out for the edge coherent mode (ECM) using the global gyrokinetic code GEM based on the EAST experimental parameters. The linear simulation results show that ECM is an electrostatic mode with dominant toroidal mode number n = 18 and frequency about 48 kHz, and propagates along the direction of electron diamagnetic drift, which are consistent with the experimental results. In addition, the density and electron temperature gradients destabilize the mode, while the collision stabilizes the mode. The nonlinear simulation results show that the saturated particle and heat fluxes induced by ECM are mainly due to the perturbed electrostatic ExB drift, and the fluxes of electrons and ions are almost equal. The ECM drives significant outward particle and heat fluxes, thus greatly promoting the maintenance of the long pulse H-mode. The Fourier decomposition of fluxes and potentials demonstrate that the intermediate-n modes of n = 14, 18 grow fastest in the linear phase, while in the nonlinear saturation phase, the low-n modes such as n = 4, 6 dominate and the fluxes are mainly contributed by the mode of n = 10. It is found that zonal flow is not the dominant saturation mechanism of the turbulence. The inverse spectral cascade of turbulence is inevitably observed in the nonlinear saturation process, indicating that it is a more universal turbulence saturation mechanism. It is also found that radial electric field can greatly reduce the turbulence intensity and transport level. From the analyses of frequency and transport channels, it can be concluded that ECM appears to be the collisionless trapped electron mode.

Numerical modeling of pedestal stability and broadband turbulence of wide-pedestal QH-mode plasmas on DIII-D

The wide-pedestal quiescent high confinement mode discovered on DIII-D in recent years is a stationary and quiescent H-mode (QH-mode) with the pedestal width exceeding EPED prediction by at least 25%. Its characteristics, such as low rotation, high energy confinement and edge localized mode-free operation, make it an attractive operation mode for future reactors. Linear and nonlinear simulations using BOUT++ reduced two fluid MHD models and awere carried out to investigate the bursty broadband turbulence often observed in the edge of wide-pedestal QH-mode plasmas. Two kinds of MHD-scale instabilities in different spatial locations within the pedestal were found in the simulations: one mild peeling–ballooning (PB) mode (γ PB < 0.04ω A) located near the minimum in E r well propagating in ion diamagnetic drift direction; and one drift-Alfvén wave locates at smaller radius compared to E r well propagating in the electron diamagnetic drift direction and unstable only when the parallel electron dynamics is included in the simulation. The coupling between drift wave and shear Alfvén wave provides a possible cause of the experimentally observed local profile flattening in the upper-pedestal. The rotation direction, mode location, as well as the wavenumber of these two modes from BOUT++ simulations agree reasonably well with the experimental measurements, while the lack of quantitative agreement is likely due to the lack of trapped electron physics in current fluid model. This work presents improved physics understanding of the pedestal stability and turbulence dynamics for wide-pedestal QH-mode.

Upgrade and application of the gas puff imaging system in EAST

The gas puff imaging (GPI) system on EAST was developed in 2012 and upgraded in 2021. A new relay optical system, consisting of a front reflecting prism, a series of lenses and a filter, is developed for the GPI diagnostic. At the end of the relay optical system, the rays are focused on a thin image surface, which is captured by the sensor of a high-speed camera. In contrast with the previous optical system of GPI in which a coherent glass fiber bundle is used to transmit the image from the end of a telescope inside the vacuum vessel to the outside, the new relay optical system has much lower light loss, i.e., the emission intensity on the image plane of the new GPI is at least 15 times higher than the previous one. In consequence, the temporal resolution of GPI diagnostic on EAST can be raised significantly. The analysis of the optical design denotes that the imaging quality is high enough to ensure a spatial resolution of 2 mm on the objective plane. In the spring experimental campaign of 2021, the upgraded GPI system was commissioned in EAST. Clear poloidal and radial propagations of the edge fluctuations are measured directly by GPI with a high sampling rate of 530 kHz. The poloidal and radial velocities of the edge fluctuations are derived by the time-delay cross-correlation method, with the radial velocity propagating outward, and the poloidal velocity propagating in the ion-diamagnetic drift direction in the SOL and in the electron-diamagnetic drift direction inside the LCFS.

Influence of low-Z impurity on the stabilization of m/n = 2/1 tearing/locked modes in EAST

The impact of the low-Z impurity concentration on mode stabilization has been investigated in the EAST tokamak. A series of tearing modes (TMs) with multiple helicities are excited by the low-Z (carbon) impurity concentration, and the dominant mode structure features m/n = 2/1 magnetic islands that propagate in the electron diamagnetic drift direction (m and n are poloidal and toroidal mode numbers, respectively). The m/n = 2/1 locked modes (LMs) can be formed by the redistribution of low-Z impurity concentration, and are unlocked spontaneously due to the decrease in the impurity concentration, where the width of the magnetic islands can reach w ≈ 5 cm (w/a ≈ 0.1, a is the minor radius). The increase in the electromagnetic brake torque is the primary reason for the mode locking, and the ‘O’-point of the m/n = 2/1 magnetic islands is locked by the tungsten protector limiter (toroidal position: −0.4π ⩽ ϕ ⩽ −0.3π) with separation of Δϕ ≈ 0. The 3D asymmetric structure of the m/n = 2/1 magnetic islands is formed for the interaction with the tungsten protector limiter, and the electromagnetic interaction decreases dramatically for the separation of Δϕ ⩾ 0.2π. The mode excitation and locking mechanisms can be illustrated by the ‘hysteresis effect’ between the low-Z impurity concentration and the width of the m/n = 2/1 magnetic islands; namely, the growth of magnetic islands is modulated by the low-Z impurity concentration, and the rotation velocity is decelerated accordingly. However, the intrinsic mechanism for the unlocking of m/n = 2/1 LMs is complicated by considering the concentration of the low-Z impurity, and the possible unlocking mechanism is discussed. Therefore, understanding the relationship between the impurities and magnetic islands is more important for optimization of the control techniques (resonant magnetic perturbations → LMs, electron cyclotron resonant heating (ECRH) → neoclassical tearing mode (NTM), impurity seeding → major collapse, etc).

Frequency chirping of neoclassical tearing modes by energetic ions

The mechanism of rapid frequency chirping for neoclassical tearing modes (NTMs) is studied. Resonance between NTMs and trapped energetic ions can provide an additional torque to change the evolution of frequency. Whether the frequency rises or falls depends on the direction of island propagation. If the island propagates in the direction of ion diamagnetic drift, the frequency will be increased dramatically and rapidly. If the island propagates in the direction of electron diamagnetic drift, the frequency will be reduced to a lower value. The predicted chirping time is consistent with experimental results in DIII-D (Liu et al 2020 Nucl. Fusion 60 112009).

Suppression and mitigation of inter-ELM high-frequency Alfvén-like mode by resonant magnetic perturbation in EAST

Suppression and mitigation of a high-frequency Alfvén-like mode (HFAM) between type-I edge localized modes (ELMs) during ELM mitigation by resonant magnetic perturbation (RMP) is observed for the first time in the EAST tokamak. This mode is located near the edge pedestal region. The modeling result of the Alfvén continuum shows that the HFAM is located near the elipical Alfvén eigenmode (EAE) gap. During the application of n = 1 RMP for ELM mitigation, the HFAM can be fully suppressed when the RMP amplitude exceeds a threshold, below which the HFAM is mitigated. The suppression is caused by a reduction of pedestal height induced by RMP. In the case using n = 3 RMP, the mode is localized toroidally at specific phase depending on the phase of applied RMP, i.e. locked in the three-dimensional equilibrium formed by RMP. The dominant toroidal mode number of HFAM is around n = −6 and it reduces to −3 during the application of n = 3 RMP, which indicates the existence of possible nonlinear coupling between the HFAM and RMP. Here the negative mode number denotes that the mode rotates in electron diamagnetic drift direction. The observation reported here improves the understanding of pedestal dynamics and its stability in RMP ELM control.

Multiple Alfvén eigenmodes induced by energetic electrons and nonlinear mode couplings in EAST radio-frequency heated H-mode plasmas

Multiple electromagnetic coherent modes with frequencies f ∼ 20–300 kHz and toroidal mode numbers n = 1 and n = 2 have been observed and investigated in radio-frequency heated H-mode plasmas of the EAST tokamak. The experimental results show that the two main branches of these coherent modes are driven by energetic electrons (EEs), which are produced in the processes of radio-frequency current drive and heating. Bicoherence analysis indicates that there are strong nonlinear mode interactions between the two branches (mother waves), i.e. one is in the low-frequency range of f ∼ 20–50 kHz and the other one is in the high-frequency range of f ∼ 120–250 kHz, and their nonlinear couplings can generate many harmonics (daughter waves). Both coherent modes propagate poloidally along the electron diamagnetic drift direction. The gyrokinetic eigenvalue simulations support the view that both the low-frequency and the high-frequency coherent modes observed in EAST are Alfvén eigenmode (AE) type, and the kinetic effects of background plasmas and EEs are responsible for the formation and excitation of AEs, respectively. The low-frequency coherent mode is identified as the kinetic beta-induced Alfvén eigenmode located in the edge, and the high-frequency coherent mode is radially global, which is characterized by a toroidal Alfvén eigenmode (TAE) in the core and also has the components of a kinetic TAE and ellipticity-induced Alfvén eigenmode in the outer region due to the large downshift of the Alfvén continuum gap from the core to the edge in H-mode discharges.

Experimental observation of low-frequency magnetohydrodynamic instabilities driven by energetic electrons in low hybrid current drive plasmas

Energetic electrons driving low-frequency magnetohydrodynamic instabilities, e.g., electron fishbone (eFB) modes and electron beta-induced Alfvén eigenmodes (eBAEs), are found in co- and counter-current drive low hybrid current drive (LHCD) plasma in HL-2A, respectively. The eBAEs are found in LHCD plasma for the first time. Two branches eFB modes are observed in the core of plasma, and they can transit from the high-frequency one to the low-frequency one continuously. The different mode structures and positions are obtained by tomography of soft x-ray arrays. The frequency jump phenomena of eFB modes are also found. Two eBAEs, with poloidal and toroidal mode numbers m/n = 3/1 and 5/2, are found in the edge of the plasma. The single m/n = 3/1 mode is found when the LHCD power (P LHCD) is 0.44 MW. The strong m/n = 5/2 mode coexists with the weak 3/1 mode when P LHCD = 0.52 MW. Although the current drive direction of LHCD is opposite to the plasma current, the two eBAEs also propagate in the electron diamagnetic drift direction poloidally, which is the same direction as the eFB modes in co-current drive LHCD plasma. With increasing P LHCD (or changed current profile), the value of the edge safety factor (q) decreases. The evolutions of the mode numbers of eBAEs may be related to changes in the edge q factors.

Simulation of Alfvén eigenmodes destabilized by energetic electrons in tokamak plasmas

Alfvén eigenmodes (AEs) driven by energetic electrons were investigated via hybrid simulations of an MHD fluid interacting with energetic electrons. The investigation focused on AEs with the toroidal number n = 4. Both energetic electrons with centrally peaked beta profile and off-axis peaked profile are considered. For the centrally peaked energetic electron beta profile case, a toroidal Alfvén eigenmode (TAE) propagating in the electron diamagnetic drift direction is found. The mode is mainly driven by deeply trapped energetic electrons. It is also found that a few passing energetic electrons spatially localized around rational surfaces can resonate with the mode. For the off-axis peaked energetic electron beta profile case, an AE propagating in the ion diamagnetic drift direction is found when a with weak magnetic shear is adopted. The destabilized mode is an elliptical-Alfvén-eigenmode-type (EAE-type) mode which has a spatial profile peaking at the rational surface and a frequency close to the second Alfvén frequency gap. It is found that passing energetic electrons and barely trapped energetic electrons are responsible for this EAE-type mode destabilization. The saturation levels are compared for a TAE with the same linear growth rate among energetic electron driven mode and energetic ion driven mode with isotropic and anisotropic velocity space distributions. The saturation level of TAE driven by trapped energetic electrons is comparable to that driven by energetic electrons with isotropic velocity space distribution where the contribution of trapped particles is dominant. It is found that the trapped energetic ion driven TAE has a larger saturation level than the passing energetic ion driven TAE, which indicates the difference in particle trapping by the TAE between trapped and passing energetic ions.

Experimental observation of coexisting electromagnetic fluctuations correlating with the inter-ELM pedestal evolution on EAST

Correlations between the edge fluctuations and the pedestal evolution during the relatively large edge localized mode (ELM) cycles at high pedestal normalized electron collisionality (νe,ped* &amp;gt; 1) on the EAST tokamak are investigated. Not only the edge electrostatic coherent mode (ECM, ∼50 kHz) and the low frequency magnetic coherent mode (MCM, ∼32 kHz) but also a high frequency electromagnetic mode (HFM, &amp;gt;150 kHz) are observed to be coexisting between ELMs. After the ELM crash, the pedestal electron temperature recovered faster than the pedestal electron density. It is found that the saturation of the ECM coincides more with the saturation of the pedestal electron density, while the saturation of the HFM and MCM coincides more with the saturation of the pedestal electron temperature. In addition, the characteristics of the electromagnetic fluctuations (the HFM and MCM) are studied in detail: the HFM propagates in the electron diamagnetic drift direction in the laboratory frame with an average poloidal wave number of k¯θHFM≈0.17 cm−1, while the MCM propagates in the ion diamagnetic drift direction in the laboratory frame with k¯θMCM ≈ 0.12 cm−1 and the toroidal mode number of n = 1. Furthermore, both the HFM and MCM have inward average radial wave numbers of k¯RHFM≈0.13 cm−1 and k¯RMCM≈4.64 cm−1. The bispectral analysis shows that the HFM and MCM have strong nonlinear interactions. The HFM is clearly observed on both low and high field side Mirnov coils, which might suggest a feature beyond a ballooning type instability, e.g., the kinetic ballooning mode. These studies may contribute to a better understanding of the pedestal evolution.

Plasma instability of magnetically enhanced vacuum arc thruster

A two-fluid flowing plasma model is applied to describe the plasma rotation and resulted instability evolution in magnetically enhanced vacuum arc thruster (MEVAT). Typical experimental parameters are employed, including plasma density, equilibrium magnetic field, ion and electron temperatures, cathode materials, axial streaming velocity, and azimuthal rotation frequency. It is found that the growth rate of plasma instability increases with growing rotation frequency and field strength, and with descending electron temperature and atomic weight, for which the underlying physics are explained. The radial structure of density fluctuation is compared with that of equilibrium density gradient, and the radial locations of their peak magnitudes are very close, implying that the mode may be driven by density gradient. Temporal evolution of perturbed mass flow in the cross section of plasma column is also presented, which behaves in the form of clockwise rotation (direction of electron diamagnetic drift) at edge and anti-clockwise rotation (direction of ion diamagnetic drift) in the core, separated by a mode transition layer from n = 0 to n = 1. This work, to our best knowledge, is the first treatment of plasma instability caused by rotation and axial flow in MEVAT, and is also of great practical interest for other electric thrusters where rotating plasma is concerned for long-time stable operation and propulsion efficiency optimization.

Formation and evolution of quasi-interchange convection cell on the HL-2A tokamak

Formation and evolution of quasi-interchange convection cell have been observed for the first time by an electron cyclotron emission imaging (ECEI) system on the HL-2A tokamak. The instability with mode numbers of m/n = –1/–1 and a frequency of 2–4 kHz propagates in the electron diamagnetic drift direction. The mode downgrades the inner stored energy WE and enhances the divertor Hα signal, which indicates a degradation of plasma confinement. The ECEI reveals that the colder core temperature fluctuation distorts to a crescent shape, while a bubble originates from hot fluctuation gradually and draws into the concave side of the crescent. A finger-like structure can be observed during the convection process, and it presents a typical feature of the quasi-interchange model. The radial structure of the interchange mode obtained from electron cyclotron emission is quite narrow at the high field side but relatively wider at the low field side. Further analysis suggests that the discharge parameters are favorable for the excitation of interchange mode, and the stability criterion is violated in the core region. Moreover, the experimental frequency agrees with that given by the linear dispersion relation of interchange instability. The large grow rate suggests that the mode grows on a very short time scale.