Lower Hybrid Grill Research Articles

Characterization of the mutual influence of Ion Cyclotron and Lower Hybrid Range of frequencies systems on EAST

Waves in the Ion Cyclotron (ICRF) and Lower Hybrid (LH) Range of Frequencies are efficient techniques respectively to heat the plasma and drive current. Main difficulties come from a trade-off between good RF coupling and acceptable level of impurities release. The mutual influence of both systems makes such equilibrium often hard to reach [1]. In order to investigate those interactions based on Scrape-Off Layer (SOL) plasma parameters, a new reciprocating probe was designed allying a three tips Langmuir probe with an emissive wire. The emissive filament provides a precise measure of plasma potential [2], which can be used to calibrate Langmuir probe's results. This paper reports on experimental results obtained on EAST, where there are two ICRF antennas and two LH launchers. Among others diagnostics, the new reciprocating probe enabled to evidence the deleterious influence of ICRF power on LHWs coupling in L-mode plasmas. In areas connected with an active ICRF antenna, SOL potentials increase while densities tend to decrease, respectively enhancing impurities release and deteriorating LHWs coupling. This phenomenon has mostly been attributed to RF sheath; the one that forms on top of Plasma Facing Components (PFCs) and causes ExB density convections [3]. From those experiments it seems ICRF has a strong influence on magnetically connected areas, both in the near field – influencing ICRF waves coupling – and in farther locations such as in front of LH grills. Moreover, influence of ICRF on LH system was observed both in L and H modes. Those results are consistent with RF sheath rectification process. Concerning the influence of LHWs on ICRF coupling, nothing was observed in L-mode. Besides during H-mode experiments, LHWs have been identified as having a mitigating effect on ELMs [4], which on average lowers the pedestal, increasing edge densities to the profit of ICRF waves coupling.

Experimental investigation of density behaviors in front of the lower hybrid launcher in experimental advanced superconducting tokamak

A triple Langmuir probe is mounted on the top of the Lower Hybrid (LH) antenna to measure the electron density near the LH grills in Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak. In this work, the LH power density ranges from 2.3 MWm−2 to 10.3 MWm−2 and the rate of puffing gas varies from 1.7 × 1020 el/s to 14 × 1020 el/s. The relation between the edge density (from 0.3 × ne_cutoff to 20 × ne_cutoff, where ne_cutoff is the cutoff density, ne_cutoff = 0.74 × 1017 m−3 for 2.45 GHz lower hybrid current drive) near the LH grill and the LH power reflection coefficients is investigated. The factors, including the gap between the LH grills and the last closed magnetic flux surface, line-averaged density, LH power, edge safety factor, and gas puffing, are analyzed. The experiments show that injection of LH power is beneficial for increasing edge density. Gas puffing is beneficial for increasing grill density but excess gas puffing is unfavorable for coupling and current drive.

Investigation of lower hybrid wave coupling and the related effects of ion cyclotron range of frequencies in EAST

Effective coupling for lower hybrid waves (LHWs) is achieved by adjusting the launcher position and optimizing the plasma configuration in L-mode in EAST. It is found that, compared with other divertor shapes, the plasma with double null shows better coupling performance at the same position of lower hybrid (LH) grill, especially in the case of a large safety factor near the separatrix (q95) and a large edge recycling (Dα) intensity. The ion cyclotron range of frequency (ICRF) power has a significant impact on LH wave coupling when the ICRF antenna is magnetically connected to the LH grill. The asymmetry effects in the poloidal direction on reflection coefficients are obtained with a low edge density during ICRF power application. The origin of such a relevant asymmetry with ICRF is different from LHWs. Results not only suggest that ICRF power could modify the density in the local scrape-off layer (SOL), but also indicate that density convection in the SOL could be easily obtained with a low edge density. One promising alternative for eliminating the negative impact on LHW coupling induced by ICRF is gas (D2) injection both from the electronic side and ionic side in EAST.

Theory of fast particle generation in front of LH grills

During tokamak operation with lower hybrid (LH) power a few per cent of the launched power is absorbed by the scrape-off layer plasma in magnetic flux tubes in front of the LH grill. At strike points of these flux tubes, intense plasma–wall interaction is seen in visible and infrared wavelengths, and local wall damage can occur. The parallel power flux within these ‘hot spots’ is estimated to be up to about 10 MW m−2 by infrared imagery. Recent experimental results from retarding field analyzer measurements on Tore Supra as well as JET IR camera measurements have shown the existence of fast electrons as far as a few centimeters from the grill mouth. This finding cannot be explained by the standard theory. We present therefore in this paper a novel theory explaining the fast electron generation in a several cm wide layer in front of the LH grill by taking into account LH wave propagation features closely connected with the blob character of edge turbulence. We demonstrate that the computed power-flows then essentially agree with data from infrared diagnostics. An alternative theoretical explanation considers plasma density modulations due to ponderomotive force effects in front of the LH grill.

Study and optimization of lower hybrid wave coupling in advanced scenario plasmas in JET

Active current drive with lower hybrid (LH) waves in the advanced scenario plasmas at JET-EFDA was successful after a systematic study of the coupling problems that derive from the H-mode features of the edge plasma, namely very low density and ELM activity. The LH coupling has been improved compared to the past, by making the edge plasma in front of the LH launcher denser and more uniform. Injecting deuterated methane (CD4) from a nearby gas pipe increases the density in front of the LH launcher at least by a factor of 1.5, above the cut-off value for the LH frequency. A better matching of the plasma shape to that of the LH antenna makes the plasma ahead of the LH launcher more regular along the poloidal angle. These two techniques together have permitted a balanced supply of the three LH grills, with an average reflection below 4%, as in the previous L-mode operation. CD4 does not affect the performances nor does it contaminate the main plasma up to the maximum flow rate so far used, and now it is routinely applied in JET (up to 4 MW have been injected for longer than 8 s) with very encouraging results for LHCD. Even though CD4 is not suitable for ITER for tritium retention, the possibility of controlling locally and safely the scrape-off plasma density has been demonstrated.

Tokamak edge electron diffusion and distribution function in the lower hybrid antenna electric field

Comprehensive test electron simulations supported by theory are carried out to determine the diffusion and distribution function of tokamak edge electrons interacting with the lower hybrid (LH) grill electric field. Edge electrons respond to the antenna field by diffusing in velocity space within a region of overlapping LH grill spectrum Fourier modes, and streaming along magnetic field lines in both directions away from the LH grill. The intrinsic electron stochasticity induced by the grill field depends here not only on field strength but also on electron velocity. Electron velocity phases between successive scattering events on wave-guides are thereby strongly correlated with the result that after an initial quasi-linear rise the electron mean velocity and variance show a tendency to saturate and the diffusion coefficient decreases along the grill. The diffusive electron response in velocity space permits the representation of the LH field effect by a Langevin stochastic process, based upon a diffusion coefficient derived herein. Results from corresponding Monte Carlo calculations agree with simulation results which use the full radio-frequency-induced electron trajectories. The rapid radio-frequency timescale ≈1/ωLH in the problem can be thus replaced by the much slower electron transit time across a wave-guide. This gives here a reduction of about ten in CPU time. We also analytically find one-sided solutions of the diffusion electron kinetic equation under thermal Maxwellian boundary conditions imposed at either grill end, describing the two counter-propagating electron populations resonant with the grill spectrum.

Generation of hot spots by fast electrons in lower hybrid grills

Generation of hot spots on plasma facing components magnetically connected to the grill is a main limiting factor in high-power operation of a lower hybrid system. A possible explanation for the hot spots is the sputtering caused by fast electrons generated by parasitic absorption of lower hybrid power near the grill mouth. The behavior of the edge plasma near the grill mouth is investigated with a new tool in this context: the self-consistent particle-in-cell (PIC) code XPDP2 [V. Vahedi et al., Phys. Fluids B 5, 2719 (1993)]. The PIC simulations provide the key parameters of the problem: the absorbed power, the radial deposition profiles, and the energy spectrum of the accelerated particles close to the grill.

Plasma-surface interactions with ICRF antennas and lower hybrid grills in Tore Supra

Plasma-surface interactions with ICRF antennas and lower hybrid grills in Tore Supra

Plasma-surface interactions with ICRF antennas and lower hybrid grills in Tore Supra

The edge plasma interactions of the actively cooled radio-frequency heating launchers in Tore Supra ion-cyclotron range of frequencies (ICRF) antennas and lower-hybrid (LH) grills are studied using infrared video imaging. On the two-strap ICRF antennas, operated in fast-wave electron heating or current drive mode, hot spots with temperatures of 500–900°C are observed by the end of 2 s power pulses of 2 MW per antenna. The steady-state temperature distribution is determined principally by the relative phase of the two antenna straps: dipole (heating) phasing results in significantly less antenna heating than does 90° (current drive) phasing. Transient heat fluxes of 1–20 MW/m 2 are measured on the lateral protection bumpers at ICRF turn-on; these fluxes are primarily a function of plasma and radio frequency (rf) control. The remarkable feature of the lower hybrid edge interaction is the production of beams of heat flux in front of the grills; these beams propagate along the helical magnetic field lines and can deliver fluxes of 5–10 MW/m 2 over areas of several cm 2 to plasma-facing components. Both the ICRF and LH phenomena appear to result from the acceleration of particles by the near fields of the launchers. Modeling of the heat flux deposition on components and its relation to sputtering processes is presented.

Study of electron density profile in the CASTOR tokamak using a lithium beam produced by diagnostic impulse arc source

A diagnostic impulse arc source of a beam of lithium atoms was used for the measurement of electron density profile in front of the lower hybrid grill on the CASTOR tokamak. It was shown that this profile is modified significantly during lower hybrid wave application if the regime with improved particle confinement is achieved.