Overview of recent physics results from the national spherical torus experiment (NSTX)

被引:39
作者
Menard, J. E.
Bell, M. G.
Bell, R. E.
Bernabei, S.
Bialek, J.
Biewer, T.
Blanchard, W.
Boedo, J.
Bush, C. E.
Carter, M. D.
Choe, W.
Crocker, N. A.
Darrow, D. S.
Davis, W.
Delgado-Aparicio, L.
Diem, S.
Domier, C. W.
D'Ippolito, D. A.
Ferron, J.
Field, A.
Foley, J.
Fredrickson, E. D.
Gates, D. A.
Gibney, T.
Harvey, R.
Hatcher, R. E.
Heidbrink, W.
Hill, K. W.
Hosea, J. C.
Jarboe, T. R.
Johnson, D. W.
Kaita, R.
Kaye, S. M.
Kessel, C. E.
Kubota, S.
Kugel, H. W.
Lawson, J.
LeBlanc, B. P.
Lee, K. C.
Levinton, F. M.
Luhmann, N. C., Jr.
Maingi, R.
Majeski, R. P.
Manickam, J.
Mansfield, D. K.
Maqueda, R.
Marsala, R.
Mastrovito, D.
Mau, T. K.
Mazzucato', E.
机构
[1] Princeton Univ, Princeton Plasma Phys Lab, Princeton, NJ 08543 USA
[2] Columbia Univ, Dept Appl Phys, New York, NY 10027 USA
[3] Univ Calif San Diego, San Diego, CA 92103 USA
[4] Oak Ridge Natl Lab, Oak Ridge, TN USA
[5] Korea Adv Inst Sci & Technol, Taejon 305701, South Korea
[6] Univ Calif Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA USA
[7] Johns Hopkins Univ, Baltimore, MD USA
[8] Univ Calif Davis, Davis, CA 95616 USA
[9] Lodestar Res Corp, Boulder, CO USA
[10] Gen Atom Co, San Diego, CA USA
[11] UKAEA Euratom Fus Assoc, Culham Lab, Abingdon OX14 3DB, Oxon, England
[12] Comp X, Del Mar, CA USA
[13] Univ Calif Irvine, Irvine, CA USA
[14] Univ Washington, Seattle, WA 98195 USA
[15] Nova Photon, Princeton, NJ USA
[16] Univ Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309 USA
[17] Hiroshima Univ, Hiroshima, Japan
[18] MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139 USA
[19] Lawrence Livermore Natl Lab, Livermore, CA USA
[20] Univ Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
[21] Univ Rochester, Rochester, NY USA
[22] CEA, Cadarache, France
[23] NYU, New York, NY USA
[24] Los Alamos Natl Lab, Los Alamos, NM USA
[25] Princeton Sci Instruments, Princeton, NJ USA
[26] ENEA, Frascati, Italy
[27] Kurchatov Inst, Moscow, Russia
[28] Univ Wisconsin, Madison, WI USA
[29] JAERI, Naka, Ibaraki, Japan
[30] Sandia Natl Labs, Albuquerque, NM 87185 USA
关键词
D O I
10.1088/0029-5515/47/10/S13
中图分类号
O35 [流体力学]; O53 [等离子体物理学];
学科分类号
070204 ; 080103 ; 080704 ;
摘要
The National Spherical Torus Experiment (NSTX) has made considerable progress in advancing the scientific understanding of high performance long-pulse plasmas needed for future spherical torus (ST) devices and ITER. Plasma durations up to 1.6 s (five current redistribution times) have been achieved at plasma currents of 0.7 MA with non-inductive current fractions above 65% while simultaneously achieving beta(T) and beta(N) values of 17% and 5.7 (%m T MA(-1)), respectively. A newly available motional Stark effect diagnostic has enabled validation of current-drive sources and improved the understanding of NSTX 'hybrid'-like scenarios. In MHD research, ex-vessel radial field coils have been utilized to infer and correct intrinsic EFs, provide rotation control and actively stabilize the n = 1 resistive wall mode at ITER-relevant low plasma rotation values. In transport and turbulence research, the low aspect ratio and a wide range of achievable in the NSTX provide unique data for confinement scaling studies, and a new microwave scattering diagnostic is being used to investigate turbulent density fluctuations with wavenumbers extending from ion to electron gyro-scales. In energetic particle research, cyclic neutron rate drops have been associated with the destabilization of multiple large toroidal Alfven eigenmodes (TAEs) analogous to the 'sea-of-TAE' modes predicted for ITER, and three-wave coupling processes have been observed for the first time. In boundary physics research, advanced shape control has enabled studies of the role of magnetic balance in H-mode access and edge localized mode stability. Peak divertor heat flux has been reduced by a factor of 5 using an H-mode-compatible radiative divertor, and lithium conditioning has demonstrated particle pumping and results in improved thermal confinement. Finally, non-solenoidal plasma start-up experiments have achieved plasma currents of 160 kA on closed magnetic flux surfaces utilizing coaxial helicity injection.
引用
收藏
页码:S645 / S657
页数:13
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