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Title: Noninductive Current Drive and Steady-State Operation in JT-60U

Journal Article · · Fusion Science and Technology
OSTI ID:20845852

Studies on noninductive current drive (CD) and development of an integrated steady-state high performance operation in JT-60 are reviewed. Experiments on lower hybrid current drive (LHCD) in JT-60 have shown a large noninductive current up to 3.6 MA, high current drive efficiency of 3.5 x 10{sup 19} m{sup -2}A/W, and a flexible current profile control. Basic studies on LH waves, such as an effect of accessibility condition, fast electron behaviors, and so on, in JT-60 have contributed to understanding LHCD physics. Significant progress in neutral beam current drive (NBCD) has been made in JT-60 by testing the performance of negative ion-based (N) neutral beam injection (NBI) (N-NBI). The CD efficiency of {approx}1.5 x 10{sup 19} m{sup -2}A/W and negative ion-based neutral beam (N-NB) driven current of {approx}1 MA have been demonstrated in N-NBCD. Strongly localized noninductive driven current by electron cyclotron current drive (ECCD) was identified with a fundamental O-mode scheme from a low field side injection. ECCD in JT-60 has shown CD efficiency of 0.5 x 10{sup 19} m{sup -2}A/W and EC-driven current of 0.2 MA. Modification of local current profile was demonstrated and was used for suppression of neoclassical tearing mode. Based on these developments, two integrated steady-state operation scenarios were developed in JT-60, which are reversed magnetic shear (R/S) plasmas and high {beta}p ELMy H-mode. In these operation regimes, discharges have been sustained near the steady-state current profile under full noninductive current drive (High {beta}p; HH{sub y2} {approx} 1.4 and {beta}{sub N} {approx} 2.5 with N-NB, R/S; HH{sub y2} {approx} 2.2 and {beta}{sub N} {approx} 2 with f{sub BS} {approx} 80%). High performance plasmas with a high n{sub Do}{tau}{sub E}T{sub io} and at high normalized density were also produced under fully noninductive condition in high {beta}p ELMy H-mode and R/S mode.

OSTI ID:
20845852
Journal Information:
Fusion Science and Technology, Vol. 42, Issue 2,3; Other Information: Copyright (c) 2006 American Nuclear Society (ANS), United States, All rights reserved. http://epubs.ans.org/; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 1536-1055
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English