Transport Of Energetic Ions Research Articles

Simulation of non-resonant high-order harmonics energetic particle modes in tokamak plasmas

Based on the parameters of the HL-2A experiment, the effect of energetic particles (EPs) on non-resonant high-order harmonics energetic particle modes (EPMs) with q min>1 is investigated in the present work. Hybrid kinetic-magnetohydrodynamic nonlinear code M3D-K is performed to simulate the linear properties and the nonlinear evolution of the non-resonant EPM during neutral beam injection (NBI). To deeply understand the physical mechanism of interaction resonant between energetic-ions and non-resonant EPM, this work compares the effects of passing energetic particles and trapped energetic particles on the non-resonant EPM instabilities. It is numerically identified that EPs’ effects on high n harmonics (m/n = 2/2, 3/3, 4/4) instability are more obvious than the m/n = 1/1 mode. Furthermore, the effects of energetic particles injection energy, the minimum safety factor q min , toroidal rotation and beam ion distribution on the features of high n harmonics are also investigated specifically. Toroidal rotation is found to suppress high n harmonics, which is more obvious for the modes driven by trapped particles. Nonlinear simulation results show that these non-resonant high n harmonics can induce larger energetic ion transport, which may affect the plasma confinement performance.

Hybrid-kinetic simulation of synergy between fishbone/sawtooth and tearing mode-induced energetic-ion transport in a tokamak plasma

The resonant interaction between tearing mode (TM) and energetic ions redistributed by fishbone/sawtooth collapse has been observed recently in HL-2A neutral beam injection-heated high-density plasmas, where m is the poloidal mode number and n is the toroidal mode number. This event essentially results from a synergistic effect with a multiple-mode nature. Understanding such experimental phenomena, especially when using high-power auxiliary heating, is crucial for achieving high-performance plasmas with high confinement and high β N in the prospective thermonuclear fusion reactors. In this work, based on the typical experimental phenomenon of synergy between fishbone/sawtooth and TM on HL-2A, a self-consistent nonlinear hybrid-kinetic simulation is conducted utilizing the experimental parameters and profiles before the occurrence of this synergy as the code M3D-K input. In particular, we focus chiefly on the phase-space transport, loss and redistribution of energetic ions induced by two cases, one with only TM and one with synergy between fishbone/sawtooth and TM. It is found that the synergy of the fishbone/sawtooth and TM on energetic-ion transport, loss and redistribution is important and can dramatically enhance the loss rate of energetic ions compared with the case with only TM. It is due to the fact that such synergy can open up an efficient energetic-ion loss channel which connects the plasma center and edge. The phase space transport and redistribution of energetic ions induced by the two different cases are also respectively analyzed and compared in detail. Because of the overestimation of amplitudes of fishbone/sawtooth and TM in the simulations, the obtained energetic-ion transport level is only limited in the context of the numerical framework. These findings indicate that the synergy triggering the sawtooth collapse may lead to an enhancement of the energetic-ion transport and can help us understand the underlying mechanisms of synergy-induced energetic-ion transport.

New Monte-Carlo based simulation program suitable for low-energy ions irradiation in pure materials

A new Monte-Carlo-based computer program (RDS-BASIC) is developed to simulate the transport of energetic ions in pure matter. This computer program is utilizing an algorithm that uses detailed numerical solutions for the classical scattering integral for evaluating the outcomes of the binary collision processes. This approach is adopted by several prominent similar simulation programs and is known to provide results with higher accuracy compared to other approaches that use approximations to shorten the simulation time. Furthermore, RDS-BASIC simulation program contains special methods to reduce the displacement energy threshold of surface atoms. This implementation is found essential for accurate simulation results for sputtering yield in the case of very low energy ions irradiation (near sputtering energy threshold) and also successfully solve the problem of simultaneously obtaining an acceptable number of atomic displacements per incident ions. Results of our simulation for several irradiation systems are presented and compared with their respective TRIM (SRIM-2013) and the state-of-the-art SDTrimSP simulation results. Our sputtering simulation results were also compared with available experimental data. The simulation execution time for these different simulation programs has also been compared.

Low-energy ion channeling in nanocubes

Focused ion beam (FIB) processing with low-energy ions has become a standard technique for the manipulation of nanostructures. Many underlying ion beam effects that deviate from conventional high-energy ion irradiation of bulk systems are considered today; however, ion channeling with its consequence of significant deeper penetration depth has been only theoretically investigated in this regime. We present here an experimental approach to determine the channeling of low-energy ions in crystalline nanoparticles by measuring the sputter yield derived from scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images taken after irradiation under various incident ion angles. Channeling maps of 30 and 20 keV Ga+ ions in Ag nanocubes have been identified and fit well with the theory. Indeed, channeling has a significant impact on the transport of energetic ions in crystals due to the large critical angle at low ion energies, thus being relevant for any FIB-application. Consequently, the obtained sputter yield clearly differs from amorphous materials; therefore, it is recommended not to rely only on, e.g., ion distribution depths predicted by standard Monte-Carlo (MC) algorithms for amorphous materials.

Hybrid simulations of beta-induced Alfvén eigenmode with reversed safety factor profile

Based on the experimental parameters in the HL-2A tokamak, hybrid simulations have been carried out to investigate the linear stability and nonlinear dynamics of the beta-induced Alfvén eigenmode (BAE). It is found that the (m/n = 3/2) BAE is excited by co-passing energetic ions with q min = 1.5 in linear simulation, and the mode frequency is consistent with the experimental measurement. The simulation results show that the energetic ions β h, the injection velocity v 0, and orbit width parameter ρ h of energetic ions are important parameters determining the drive of BAE. Furthermore, the effect of q min (with the fixed shape of the q profile) is studied, and it is found that when q min ⩽ 1.5, the excited modes are BAEs, which are located near q = 1.5 rational surfaces; when q min > 1.5, the excited modes are similar to the reversed-shear Alfvén eigenmodes, which are mainly localized around q = q min surfaces. Nonlinear simulation results show that the nonlinear dynamics of BAE are sensitive to the EP drive. For the strongly driven case, firstly, redistribution and transport of energetic ions are trigged by 3/2 BAE, which raised the radial gradient of the distibution function of energetic ions near the q = 2 rational surface, and then an energetic particle mode (EPM) (m/n = 4/2) is driven in the nonlinear phase. Finally, these two instabilities triggered a significant redistribution of energetic ions, which results in the twice-repeated and mostlydownward frequency chirping of 3/2 BAE. For the weakly driven case, there are no 4/2 EPM being driven nor twice-repeated chirping in the nonlinear phase, since the radial gradient near q = 2 rational surface is small and almost unchanged.

Suprathermal Ion Energy Spectra and Anisotropies near the Heliospheric Current Sheet Crossing Observed by the Parker Solar Probe during Encounter 7

Abstract We present observations of ≳10–100 keV nucleon−1 suprathermal (ST) H, He, O, and Fe ions associated with crossings of the heliospheric current sheet (HCS) at radial distances of <0.1 au from the Sun. Our key findings are as follows: (1) very few heavy ions are detected during the first full crossing, the heavy-ion intensities are reduced during the second partial crossing and peak just after the second crossing; (2) ion arrival times exhibit no velocity dispersion; (3) He pitch-angle distributions track the magnetic field polarity reversal and show up to ∼10:1 anti-sunward, field-aligned flows and beams closer to the HCS that become nearly isotropic farther from the HCS; (4) the He spectrum steepens either side of the HCS, and the He, O, and Fe spectra exhibit power laws of the form ∼E −4–E 6; and (5) maximum energies E X increase with the ion’s charge-to-mass (Q/M) ratio as E X / E H ∝ ( Q X / M X ) δ , where δ ∼ 0.65–0.76, assuming that the average Q states are similar to those measured in gradual and impulsive solar energetic particle events at 1 au. The absence of velocity dispersion in combination with strong field-aligned anisotropies closer to the HCS appears to rule out solar flares and near-Sun coronal-mass-ejection-driven shocks. These new observations present challenges not only for mechanisms that employ direct parallel electric fields and organize maximum energies according to E/Q but also for local diffusive and magnetic-reconnection-driven acceleration models. Reevaluation of our current understanding of the production and transport of energetic ions is necessary to understand this near-solar, current-sheet-associated population of ST ions.

NSTX-U theory, modeling and analysis results

Abstract The mission of the low aspect ratio spherical tokamak NSTX-U is to advance the physics basis and technical solutions required for optimizing the configuration of next-step steady-state tokamak fusion devices. NSTX-U will ultimately operate at up to 2 MA of plasma current and 1 T toroidal field on axis for 5 seconds, and has available up to 15 MW of Neutral Beam Injection (NBI) power at different tangency radii and 6 MW of High Harmonic Fast Wave (HHFW) heating. With these capabilities NSTX-U will develop the physics understanding and control tools to ramp-up and sustain high performance fully non-inductive plasmas with large bootstrap fraction and enhanced confinement enabled via the low aspect ratio, high beta configuration. With its unique capabilities, NSTX-U research also supports ITER and other critical fusion development needs. Super-Alfvénic ions in beam-heated NSTX-U plasmas access energetic particle parameter space that is relevant for both -heated conventional and low aspect ratio burning plasmas. NSTX-U can also generate very large target heat fluxes to test conventional and innovative plasma exhaust and plasma facing component (PFC) solutions. This paper summarizes recent analysis, theory and modelling progress to advance the tokamak physics basis in the areas of macrostability and 3D fields, energetic particle stability and fast ion transport, thermal transport and pedestal structure, boundary and plasma material interaction, RF heating, scenario optimization and real-time control.

Microturbulence-mediated route for energetic ion transport and Alfvénic mode amplitude oscillations in tokamaks

New regimes of Alfvén eigenmode (AE) induced fast ion transport in tokamak plasmas are reported, in which microturbulence plays the role of a mediator of fast ion relaxation. Coulomb collisional scattering alone leads to small AE amplitudes and does not reproduce the steady state regimes observed in experiments. We show that in nonlinear regimes the sufficiently large effective pitch angle scattering due to microturbulence can lead to steady state AE amplitude evolution. This indicates a new route for fast ion losses, which is beyond the scenarios described in “Energetic ion transport by microturbulence is insignificant in tokamaks” [Pace et al. (2013) [9]]. As a result, microturbulence can significantly increase the amplitude of AEs in predictive simulations of burning plasma experiments such as ITER.

Symplectic Computations of Fast Ion Trajectory and Radial Diffusion Coefficient in MHD Perturbed Tokamak

The magneto-hydrodynamics (MHD) modes existing in conducting plasmas can greatly affect charged particle’s dynamics. Low frequency MHD perturbations, called the neo-classical tearing (NTM) modes, give rise to magnetic islands which can deteriorate fast ion confinement, especially in tokamak plasmas. Here, a Hamiltonian guiding-center code, based on symplectic algorithm which allows efficient computations of energetic ion trajectories and transport coefficients, has been applied to magnetically perturbed tokamak plasmas. The effects of NTM perturbations on the energetic ion trajectories and diffusion coefficient have been presented. It is demonstrated that the inclusion of such steady state magnetic perturbations in the guiding center drift orbit computations escalates the loss of energetic ions via radial diffusion. Moreover, the broader NTMs lead to a significant enhancement of the radial diffusion coefficient.

Characteristics of off-axis sawteeth with an internal transport barrier in EAST

An internal transport barrier (ITB) and double tearing modes (DTM) have been observed during the off-axis sawteeth in EAST. The ITB of electron temperature Te is modulated by the sawteeth oscillation, and the formation of an ITB can be divided into three stages: (i) the transport produced by a sawteeth final crash is suppressed at the first stage with a steep gradient of Te; (ii) the micro-instability is developed at the second stage for further increasing the gradient of Te; (iii) the ITB is formed eventually after the transition from beta-induced Alfvén eigenmodes (BAEs) to reversed shear Alfvén eigenmodes (RSAEs), where the BAEs-RSAEs pair enables the tracking of directly from the experiment. The off-axis sawteeth final crash is triggered by DTM: (i) the DTM can be excited by the redistribution of the profile of thermal particles, where the downward transport of energetic ions is detected indirectly by the soft x-ray arrays for the first time; (ii) the DTM can be excited by the transformation from the kink instability.

Evaluation of Spatial Resolution of Neutron Profile Monitor in LHD

The vertical neutron camera (VNC) has been developed to measure neutron emission profile in deuterium plasmas of the large helical device (LHD). The experiment on spatial resolution evaluation for VNC was carried out in November 2016 by using a 252 Cf neutron source of 800 MBq. The neutron source was introduced into the LHD vacuum vessel through an aluminum pipe from an upper diagnostics port to the equatorial plane. The source was placed at the following two positions. The first position is just on the cylindrical collimator axis, and the second position is in the middle of two neighboring collimator axes. The stilbene scintillation detectors are aligned radially at the collimator end to detect unscattered fast-neutrons generated in a deuterium plasma. The 3-D neutron transport calculations by using a general-purpose Monte Carlo N-particle code 6 reproduced the experimentally obtained neutron counting rate, indicating that VNC has sufficient spatial resolution and the crosstalk between two neighboring collimators is a fairly small fraction. It is expected that the VNC on LHD will function as a tool for the study on the radial transport of energetic ions.

Observation of enhanced radial transport of energetic ion due to energetic particle mode destabilized by helically-trapped energetic ion in the Large Helical Device

A deuterium experiment was initiated to achieve higher-temperature and higher-density plasmas in March 2017 in the Large Helical Device (LHD). The central ion temperature notably increases compared with that in hydrogen experiments. However, an energetic particle mode called the helically-trapped energetic-ion-driven resistive interchange (EIC) mode is often excited by intensive perpendicular neutral beam injections on high ion-temperature discharges. The mode leads to significant decrease of the ion temperature or to limiting the sustainment of the high ion-temperature state. To understand the effect of EIC on the energetic ion confinement, the radial transport of energetic ions is studied by means of the neutron flux monitor and vertical neutron camera newly installed on the LHD. Decreases of the line-integrated neutron profile in core channels show that helically-trapped energetic ions are lost from the plasma.

Development towards a fast ion loss detector for the reversed field pinch.

A fast ion loss detector has been constructed and implemented on the Madison Symmetric Torus (MST) to investigate energetic ion losses and transport due to energetic particle and MHD instabilities. The detector discriminates particle orbits solely on pitch and consists of two thin-foil, particle collecting plates that are symmetric with respect to the device aperture. One plate collects fast ion signal, while the second aids in the minimization of background and noise effects. Initial measurements are reported along with suggestions for the next design phase of the detector.

Effect of radial plasma transport at the magnetic throat on axial ion beam formation

Correlation between radial plasma transport and formation of an axial ion beam has been investigated in a helicon plasma reactor implemented with a convergent-divergent magnetic nozzle. The plasma discharge is sustained under a high magnetic field mode and a low magnetic field mode for which the electron energy probability function, the plasma density, the plasma potential, and the electron temperature are measured at the magnetic throat, and the two field modes show different radial parametric behaviors. Although an axial potential drop occurs in the plasma source for both field modes, an ion beam is only observed in the high field mode while not in the low field mode. The transport of energetic ions is characterized downstream of the plasma source using the delimited ion current and nonlocal ion current. A decay of ion beam strength is also observed in the diffusion chamber.

Charge states of energetic oxygen and sulfur ions in Jupiter's magnetosphere

AbstractPitch angle distributions of proton and energetic heavy ion fluxes near Europa's orbit have been measured by the Galileo Energetic Particles Detector (EPD). At similar energies, these distributions have important differences. If their source and transport processes are similar, as we hypothesize here, then it is difficult to reconcile their different pitch angle distributions. By looking at the same question, other researchers have proposed that the heavies are multiply charged, leading to differences in how the particles are lost. This could not be confirmed directly with EPD because that detector does not separate heavy ion measurements by charge state. However, indirect analyses of the data have extracted the charge state of a few sulfur events. We present here a complete list of ion injections observed with EPD over the whole mission. Energetic sulfur and oxygen charge states can be inferred through a dispersion analysis of dynamic injections that makes use of the charge‐dependent nature of the gradient‐curvature azimuthal drift. We find that sulfur is predominantly multiply charged, whereas oxygen is more evenly distributed between singly and doubly charged states. In addition to current theories on energetic heavy ion transport near the Europa region, we propose that charge gain for the oxygen ions (electron stripping) may play an important role in the character of energetic particles in that region.

Modeling and measuring the transport and scattering of energetic debris in an extreme ultraviolet plasma source

A theoretical model for describing the propagation and scattering of energetic species in an extreme ultraviolet (EUV) light lithography source is presented. An EUV light emitting XTREME XTS 13-35 Z-pinch plasma source is modeled with a focus on the effect of chamber pressure and buffer gas mass on energetic ion and neutral debris transport. The interactions of the energetic debris species, which is generated by the EUV light emitting plasma, with the buffer gas and chamber walls are considered as scattering events in the model, and the trajectories of the individual atomic species involved are traced using a Monte Carlo algorithm. This study aims to establish the means by which debris is transported to the intermediate focus with the intent to verify the various mitigation techniques currently employed to increase EUV lithography efficiency. The modeling is compared with an experimental investigation. © 2016 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE) (DOI: 10.1117/1. JMM.15.1.013503)

Kinetic theory of passing energetic ion transport in presence of the resonant interactions with a rotating magnetic island

The enhanced transport of passing energetic ions (PEIs) in presence of the resonant interactions with a rotating magnetic island is investigated within the drift kinetic framework. When the island rotation plays a role in the resonant interaction, we find that the velocities of PEIs satisfy a constraint relation of resonant flux surface in phase space. The resonant flux surfaces overlap with the magnetic flux surfaces in real space. A new transport channel responsible for the PEIs moving across the magnetic flux surfaces, i.e., continuously overlapping, is found. Two kinds of radial motions can be induced by the surface overlapping: one arises from the coupling between the resonance and the collision with the background plasma and the other from not completely overlapping of the two surfaces. The two radial motions and the symmetry-breaking induced radial motion constitute the total radial motion. When the pitch-angle scattering rate is very weak, the surface-shear induced transport is dominant. Only a small increase in the collision rate can significantly influence the total transport.

Transport study for passing energetic ions in presence of the resonant interactions with rotating magnetic islands

The transport of passing energetic ions (EIs) in presence of the resonant interaction with a rotating magnetic island is studied within the frame of drift kinetics. The phase-space structure of the drift island induced by the resonances is first presented. New transport channels responsible for the transport of EIs are discovered when the drift island of phase space couples with the magnetic island in real space. When the pitch-angle scattering rate is very weak, the resonance-induced transport is dominant. Only a small increase in the collision rate can significantly influence the total transport.

Bucket transport of energetic ions in tokamaks

The so-called “bucket transport” of energetic ions — the spatial mixing of these ions due to spatial displacement of resonances — is studied with special attention to quasi-steady-state magnetic perturbations. A Hamiltonian formalism suitable to the case when the resonance displacement results from the collisional slowing down of the particles and the temporal evolution of the safety factor profile is suggested. The energy flux produced due to the bucket transport is shown to be considerable in configurations with low shear. It is shown that the bucket transport flux associated with magnetic islands tends to be localized at some distance from the islands. The bucket transport caused by perturbations with non-zero frequencies is also discussed.

Mapping and uncertainty analysis of energy and pitch angle phase space in the DIII-D fast ion loss detector.

New phase space mapping and uncertainty analysis of energetic ion loss data in the DIII-D tokamak provides experimental results that serve as valuable constraints in first-principles simulations of energetic ion transport. Beam ion losses are measured by the fast ion loss detector (FILD) diagnostic system consisting of two magnetic spectrometers placed independently along the outer wall. Monte Carlo simulations of mono-energetic and single-pitch ions reaching the FILDs are used to determine the expected uncertainty in the measurements. Modeling shows that the variation in gyrophase of 80 keV beam ions at the FILD aperture can produce an apparent measured energy signature spanning across 50-140 keV. These calculations compare favorably with experiments in which neutral beam prompt loss provides a well known energy and pitch distribution.