ICRF Mode Conversion Studies with Phase Contrast Imaging and Comparisons with Full-Wave Simulations

Journal Article · Fri Dec 23 00:00:00 EST 2011 · AIP Conference Proceedings

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3664980· OSTI ID:21612491

Tsujii, N; Bonoli, P T; Lin, Y; Wright, J C; Wukitch, S J ^[1]; Porkolab, M; Jaeger, E F ^[2]; Harvey, R W ^[3]

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1. MIT Plasma Science and Fusion Center, Cambridge, Massachusetts (United States)
2. Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oadk Ridge, Tennessee (United States)
3. CompX, Del Mar, California (United States)

Waves in the ion cyclotron range of frequencies (ICRF) are widely used to heat toka-mak plasmas. In a multi-ion-species plasma, the FW converts to ion cyclotron waves (ICW) and ion Bernstein waves (IBW) around the ion-ion hybrid resonance (mode conversion). The mode converted wave is of interest as an actuator to optimise plasma performance through flow drive and current drive. Numerical simulations are essential to describe these processes accurately, and it is important that these simulation codes be validated. On Alcator C-Mod, direct measurements of the mode converted waves have been performed using Phase Contrast Imaging (PCI), which measures the line-integrated electron density fluctuations. The results were compared to full-wave simulations AORSA and TORIC. AORSA is coupled to a Fokker-Planck code CQL3D for self-consistent simulation of the wave electric field and the minority distribution function. The simulation results are compared to PCI measurements using synthetic diagnostic. The experiments were performed in D-H and D-{sup 3}He plasmas over a wide range of ion species concentrations. The simulations agreed well with the measurements in the strong absorption regime. However, the measured fluctuation intensity was smaller by 1-2 orders of magnitudes in the weakly abosorbing regime, and a realistic description of the plasma edge including dissipation and antenna geometry may be required in these cases.

• OSTI ID: 21612491
• Journal Information: AIP Conference Proceedings, Vol. 1406, Issue 1; Conference: 9. topical conference on radio frequency power in plasmas, Newport (United States), 1-3 Jun 2011; Other Information: DOI: 10.1063/1.3664980; (c) 2011 American Institute of Physics; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0094-243X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
ABSORPTION
ACTUATORS
ALCATOR DEVICE
ANTENNAS
BERNSTEIN MODE
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION
DISTRIBUTION FUNCTIONS
ELECTRIC FIELDS
ELECTRON DENSITY
FLUCTUATIONS
FOKKER-PLANCK EQUATION
HELIUM 3
ICR HEATING
ION CYCLOTRON-RESONANCE
ION PLASMA WAVES
IONS
MODE CONVERSION
PLASMA
CHARGED PARTICLES
CLOSED PLASMA DEVICES
CYCLOTRON RESONANCE
DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
EQUATIONS
EQUIPMENT
EVALUATION
EVEN-ODD NUCLEI
FUNCTIONS
HEATING
HELIUM ISOTOPES
HIGH-FREQUENCY HEATING
ION WAVES
ISOTOPES
LIGHT NUCLEI
NUCLEI
OSCILLATION MODES
PARTIAL DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
PLASMA HEATING
PLASMA WAVES
RESONANCE
SIMULATION
SORPTION
STABLE ISOTOPES
THERMONUCLEAR DEVICES
TOKAMAK DEVICES
VARIATIONS