An overview of the DIII-D program
The DIII-D program focuses on developing fusion physics in an integrated program of tokamak concept improvement. The intent is both to support the present ITER physics R and D and to develop more efficient concepts for the later phases of ITER and eventual power plants. Progress in this effort can be best summarized by recent results for a diverted deuterium discharge with negative central shear which reached a performance level of Q{sub DT} = 0.32. The ongoing development of the tools needed to carry out this program of understanding and optimization continues to be crucial to its success. Control of the plasma cross-sectional shape and the internal distributions of plasma current, density, and rotation has been essential to optimizing plasma performance. Advanced divertor concepts provide edge power and particle control for future devices such as ITER and provide techniques to help manage the edge power and particle flows for advanced tokamak concepts. New divertor diagnostics and improved modeling are developing excellent divertor understanding. Many of the plasma physics issues being posed by ITER are being addressed. Scrapeoff layer power flow is being characterized to provide an accurate basis for the design of reactor devices. Ongoing studies of the density limit focus on identifying ways in which ITER can achieve the required densities in excess of the Greenwald limit. Better understanding of disruptions is crucial to the design of future reactors.
- Research Organization:
- General Atomics, San Diego, CA (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Energy Research, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC03-89ER51114
- OSTI ID:
- 425348
- Report Number(s):
- GA-A-22458; CONF-960944-3; ON: DE97001822; TRN: 97:003059
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: SOFT `96: 19. symposium on fusion technology, Lisbon (Portugal), 16-20 Sep 1996; Other Information: PBD: Oct 1996
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Collaboration on DIII-D Five Year Plan
DIII-D research operations. Annual report, October 1, 1992--September 30, 1993