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Title: Quasi-linear gyrokinetic predictions of the Coriolis momentum pinch in National Spherical Torus Experiment

Abstract

This paper presents quasi-linear gyrokinetic predictions of the Coriolis momentum pinch for low aspect-ratio National Spherical Torus Experiment (NSTX) H-modes where previous experimental measurements were focused. Local, linear calculations predict that in the region of interest (just outside the mid-radius) of these relatively high-beta plasmas, profiles are most unstable to microtearing modes that are only effective in transporting electron energy. However, sub-dominant electromagnetic and electrostaticballooning modes are also unstable, which are effective at transporting energy, particles, and momentum. The quasi-linear prediction of transport from these weaker ballooning modes, assuming they contribute transport in addition to that from microtearing modes in a nonlinear turbulent state, leads to a very small or outward convection of momentum, inconsistent with the experimentally measured inward pinch, and opposite to predictions in conventional aspect ratio tokamaks. Additional predictions of a low beta L-mode plasma, unstable to more traditional electrostatic ion temperature gradient-trapped electron mode instability, show that the Coriolis pinch is inward but remains relatively weak and insensitive to many parameter variations. The weak or outward pinch predicted in NSTX plasmas appears to be at least partially correlated to changes in the parallel mode structure that occur at a finite beta and low aspect ratio, asmore » discussed in previous theories. The only conditions identified where a stronger inward pinch is predicted occur either in the purely electrostatic limit or if the aspect ratio is increased. Lastly, as the Coriolis pinch cannot explain the measured momentum pinch, additional theoretical momentum transport mechanisms are discussed that may be potentially important.« less

Authors:
ORCiD logo [1];  [1]; ORCiD logo [1];  [1];  [1];  [2]; ORCiD logo [1];  [1];  [3]
  1. Princeton Plasma Physics Lab. (PPPL), Princeton, NJ (United States)
  2. General Atomics, San Diego, CA (United States)
  3. Nova Photonics Inc., Princeton, NJ (United States)
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL), Princeton, NJ (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE
OSTI Identifier:
1254753
Alternate Identifier(s):
OSTI ID: 1252581
Report Number(s):
PPPL-5241
Journal ID: ISSN 1070-664X; PHPAEN; TRN: US1601726
Grant/Contract Number:  
AC02-09CH11466
Resource Type:
Journal Article: Accepted Manuscript
Journal Name:
Physics of Plasmas
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 23; Journal Issue: 5; Related Information: The experimental data for this paper can be found at http://arks.princeton.edu/ark:/88435/dsp0137720g13x; Journal ID: ISSN 1070-664X
Publisher:
American Institute of Physics (AIP)
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY; spherical tokamak; tokamaks, NSTX; transport theory; H mode; ion temperature gradient mode; macroinstabilities; electrostatics; Coriolis effects

Citation Formats

Guttenfelder, W., Kaye, S. M., Ren, Y., Solomon, W., Bell, R. E., Candy, J., Gerhardt, S. P., LeBlanc, B. P., and Yuh, H. Quasi-linear gyrokinetic predictions of the Coriolis momentum pinch in National Spherical Torus Experiment. United States: N. p., 2016. Web. doi:10.1063/1.4948791.
Guttenfelder, W., Kaye, S. M., Ren, Y., Solomon, W., Bell, R. E., Candy, J., Gerhardt, S. P., LeBlanc, B. P., & Yuh, H. Quasi-linear gyrokinetic predictions of the Coriolis momentum pinch in National Spherical Torus Experiment. United States. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4948791
Guttenfelder, W., Kaye, S. M., Ren, Y., Solomon, W., Bell, R. E., Candy, J., Gerhardt, S. P., LeBlanc, B. P., and Yuh, H. 2016. "Quasi-linear gyrokinetic predictions of the Coriolis momentum pinch in National Spherical Torus Experiment". United States. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4948791. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1254753.
@article{osti_1254753,
title = {Quasi-linear gyrokinetic predictions of the Coriolis momentum pinch in National Spherical Torus Experiment},
author = {Guttenfelder, W. and Kaye, S. M. and Ren, Y. and Solomon, W. and Bell, R. E. and Candy, J. and Gerhardt, S. P. and LeBlanc, B. P. and Yuh, H.},
abstractNote = {This paper presents quasi-linear gyrokinetic predictions of the Coriolis momentum pinch for low aspect-ratio National Spherical Torus Experiment (NSTX) H-modes where previous experimental measurements were focused. Local, linear calculations predict that in the region of interest (just outside the mid-radius) of these relatively high-beta plasmas, profiles are most unstable to microtearing modes that are only effective in transporting electron energy. However, sub-dominant electromagnetic and electrostaticballooning modes are also unstable, which are effective at transporting energy, particles, and momentum. The quasi-linear prediction of transport from these weaker ballooning modes, assuming they contribute transport in addition to that from microtearing modes in a nonlinear turbulent state, leads to a very small or outward convection of momentum, inconsistent with the experimentally measured inward pinch, and opposite to predictions in conventional aspect ratio tokamaks. Additional predictions of a low beta L-mode plasma, unstable to more traditional electrostatic ion temperature gradient-trapped electron mode instability, show that the Coriolis pinch is inward but remains relatively weak and insensitive to many parameter variations. The weak or outward pinch predicted in NSTX plasmas appears to be at least partially correlated to changes in the parallel mode structure that occur at a finite beta and low aspect ratio, as discussed in previous theories. The only conditions identified where a stronger inward pinch is predicted occur either in the purely electrostatic limit or if the aspect ratio is increased. Lastly, as the Coriolis pinch cannot explain the measured momentum pinch, additional theoretical momentum transport mechanisms are discussed that may be potentially important.},
doi = {10.1063/1.4948791},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1254753}, journal = {Physics of Plasmas},
issn = {1070-664X},
number = 5,
volume = 23,
place = {United States},
year = {Wed May 11 00:00:00 EDT 2016},
month = {Wed May 11 00:00:00 EDT 2016}
}

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Quasi-linear gyrokinetic predictions of the Coriolis momentum pinch in NSTX
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Quasi-linear gyrokinetic predictions of the Coriolis momentum pinch in NSTX
dataset, January 2016


Quasi-linear gyrokinetic predictions of the Coriolis momentum pinch in NSTX
dataset, January 2016


Quasi-linear gyrokinetic predictions of the Coriolis momentum pinch in NSTX
dataset, January 2016


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Works referencing / citing this record:

Quasi-linear gyrokinetic predictions of the Coriolis momentum pinch in NSTX
dataset, January 2016


Quasi-linear gyrokinetic predictions of the Coriolis momentum pinch in NSTX
dataset, January 2016