Presence Of Resonant Magnetic Perturbations Research Articles

Impact of resonant magnetic perturbations on zonal modes, drift-wave turbulence and the L–H transition threshold

We study the effects of resonant magnetic perturbations (RMPs) on turbulence, flows and confinement in the framework of resistive drift-wave turbulence. This work was motivated, in parts, by experiments reported at the IAEA 2010 conference (Xu et al 2011 Nucl. Fusion 51 062030) which showed a decrease of long-range correlations during the application of RMPs. We derive and apply a zero-dimensional predator–prey model coupling the drift-wave–zonal-mode system (Leconte and Diamond 2012 Phys. Plasmas 19 055903) to the evolution of mean quantities. This model has both density-gradient drive and RMP amplitude as control parameters and predicts a novel type of transport bifurcation in the presence of RMPs. This model allows a description of the full L–H transition evolution with RMPs, including the mean sheared flow evolution. The key results are the following: (i) the L–I and I–H power thresholds both increase with RMP amplitude , the relative increase of the L–I threshold scales as , where ν* is edge collisionality and ρs is the sound gyroradius. (ii) RMPs are predicted to decrease the hysteresis between the forward and back-transition. (iii) Taking into account the mean density evolution, the density profile—sustained by the particle source—has an increased turbulent diffusion compared with the reference case without RMPs which provides one possible explanation for the density pump-out effect.

On gas flow effects in 3D edge transport simulations for DIII-D plasmas with resonant magnetic perturbations

Pumping of neutral gas and re-fuelling in other locations (e.g. neutral beam injection or gas puffing) are key ingredients in divertor physics. However, these have not been included in previous 3D edge plasma transport simulations with the EMC3–EIRENE code. Including these effects brings the simulations closer to reality and we demonstrate that this has a significant impact on divertor parameters. In particular, we study the impact of the pumping efficiency on ITER similar shape plasmas at the DIII-D tokamak in the presence of resonant magnetic perturbations. Further, we investigate the so-called ‘particle pump-out effect’. We show that in the present transport model and for given pumping and re-fuelling rates, the density at the transition to the core region decreases with increasing perturbation current and also the temperature. The striation patterns in the target particle and heat fluxes are extended into the regular scrape-off layer, which is caused by cross-field transport into a thin layer around the perturbed separatrix.

Impact of resonant magnetic perturbations on nonlinearly driven modes in drift-wave turbulence

In this work, we study the effects of resonant magnetic perturbations (RMPs) on turbulence, flows, and confinement in the framework of resistive drift wave turbulence. We extend the Hasegawa-Wakatani model to include RMP fields. The effect of the RMPs is to induce a linear coupling between the zonal electric field and the zonal density gradient, which drives the system to a state of electron radial force balance for large δBrB0. Both the vorticity flux (Reynolds stress) and particle flux are modulated. We derive an extended predator prey model which couples zonal potential and density dynamics to the evolution of turbulence intensity. This model has both turbulence drive and RMP amplitude as control parameters and predicts a novel type of transport bifurcation in the presence of RMPs. We find states that are similar to the ZF-dominated state of the standard predator-prey model, but for which the power threshold is now a function of the RMP strength. For small RMP amplitude, the energy of zonal flows decreases and the turbulence energy increases with δBrB0, corresponding to a damping of zonal flows.

Effect of resonant magnetic perturbations on secondary structures in drift-wave turbulence

Recent experiments showed a decrease of long range correlations during the application of resonant magnetic perturbations (RMPs) [Y. Xu et al., Nucl. Fusion 51, 063020 (2011)]. This finding suggests that RMPs damp zonal flows. To elucidate the effect of the RMPs on zonal structures in drift wave turbulence, we construct a generalized Hasegawa-Wakatani model including RMP fields. The effect of the RMPs is to induce a linear coupling between the zonal electric field and the zonal density gradient, which drives the system to a state of electron radial force balance for large RMP amplitude. A predator-prey model coupling the primary drift wave dynamics to the zonal modes evolution is derived. This model has both turbulence drive and RMP amplitude as control parameters and predicts a novel type of transport bifurcation in the presence of RMPs. The novel regime has a power threshold which increases with RMP amplitude as γc~[δBrB]2.

Modelling of the edge plasma of MAST in the presence of resonant magnetic perturbations

The transport code B2SOLPS5.2 is used to simulate L- and H-mode discharges on MAST with and without resonant magnetic perturbations (RMP). The simulated variation of the radial electric field (less negative for RMP) and toroidal rotation (spin-up in the co-current direction for RMP) is in agreement with the experiment. The pump-out effect in the L-modes with high and medium plasma density and in the H-mode is caused by the additional neoclassical radial plasma flow in the electric field modified due to the electron loss along the stochastic field lines. The pump-out in the low-density L-mode can be reproduced only by a significant rise in the turbulent transport coefficients. The modelling suggests strong RMP screening. An analytical model for RMP screening is proposed.

Edge turbulence and flows in the presence of resonant magnetic perturbations on MAST

The impact of resonant magnetic perturbations (RMPs) on the edge of MAST L-mode plasmas is studied using a mid-plane reciprocating probe equipped with a Gundestrup probe head. A strong impact on the characteristics of the ion saturation current fluctuations is observed just inside the separatrix, with a broadening of the power spectrum and an asymmetrization of the probability distribution functions towards non-Gaussian shapes. No major effect is found in the scrape-off layer (SOL). Floating potential measurements are used to evaluate the modification of the plasma potential profiles. The radial electric field profile flattens when RMPs are applied, leading to a theoretically expected increase in Er inside the separatrix and a decrease in the SOL. A consistent change is observed on the perpendicular and parallel flows which tend to increase inside the separatrix. In contrast, in the SOL, a braking of the rotation is observed with the application of RMPs. All these effects occur only above a threshold in the amplitude of the current applied in the RMP coils and are not toroidally localized.

Effects of resonant magnetic perturbations on the dynamics of transport barrier relaxations in fusion plasmas

The dynamics of transport barrier relaxation oscillations in the presence of resonant magnetic perturbations (RMPs) is investigated with a 3D global fluid code which simulates resistive ballooning turbulence in tokamak edge plasmas. The results reproduce qualitatively the stabilizing effect of RMPs and share common characteristics with ELM control experiments. It is found that this stabilization is due to a modification of the geometrical properties of the barrier.

Generic magnetic field model in poloidal divertor tokamaks in the presence of resonant magnetic perturbations

A generic analytical model for the description of magnetic field lines in poloidal divertor tokamaks in the presence of external resonant magnetic perturbations is proposed. It is based on the Hamiltonian description of magnetic field lines in tokamaks. The safety factor and the spectra of magnetic perturbations are chosen by the requirement to satisfy their generic behaviour near the magnetic separatrix and at the magnetic axis. The field line equations are integrated by the construction of two symplectic and computationally efficient mappings of field lines. The model for internal MHD modes is also proposed. The mapping procedure for field lines which includes the MHD modes is described. It is shown that the numerically calculated diffusion and convection coefficients of field lines are in close agreement with the quasilinear ones. It is found that in the presence of internal MHD modes at the plasma edge the convectional outward transport of field lines may reverse its direction to inward convectional transport.

Control of Transport-Barrier Relaxations by Resonant Magnetic Perturbations

Transport-barrier relaxation oscillations in the presence of resonant magnetic perturbations are investigated using three-dimensional global fluid turbulence simulations from first principles at the edge of a tokamak. It is shown that resonant magnetic perturbations have a stabilizing effect on these relaxation oscillations and that this effect is due mainly to a modification of the pressure profile linked to the presence of both residual magnetic island chains and a stochastic layer.