Advanced tokamak research on the DIII-D tokamak
The objective of the planned research in advanced tokamak development on DIII-D at General Atomics, San Diego, USA. is to establish improved tokamak operation through significant improvements in the stability factor, confinement quality, and bootstrap current fraction using localized radio frequency (rf) current profile control, rf and neutral beam heating for pressure profile control, as well as control of plasma rotation and optimization of the plasma boundary conditions. Recent research results in H-mode confinement, modifications of current profiles to achieve higher confinement and higher {beta}, a new regime of improved confinement (VH-mode), and rf noninductive current drive are encouraging. In this talk, arguments will be presented supporting the need for improved performance in tokamak reactors. Experimentally observed advanced performance regimes on DIII-D will be discussed. Confinement improvement up to H = 4, where H is the ratio of energy confinement time to the ITER89-P scaling H{triple_bond} {Tau}{sub E}/{Tau}{sub E-ITER89-P}, has been achieved. In other discharges {beta}{sub N} = {beta}/(I/aB),[%-m{center_dot}{Tau}/MA] {approx_gt} 6 has been obtained. These values have so far been achieved transiently and independently. Techniques, will be described which can extend the high performance to quasi-steady-state and sustain the high H and {beta}{sub N} values simultaneously. Two high performance regimes, one in first stable regime and the other in second stable regime, have been simulated br self-consistently evolving a magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) equilibrium-transport code. Finally, experimental program plans and outstanding important physics issues will be discussed.
- Research Organization:
- General Atomics, San Diego, CA (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- FG03-92ER54150; AC03-89ER51114
- OSTI ID:
- 10170148
- Report Number(s):
- GA-A-21466; CONF-9310340-1; ON: DE94015860; BR: 35AT05000/AT0520210; 35AT10020/35KC07000; TRN: 94:015474
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: Workshop on nuclear fusion and plasma physics,Hefei (China),4-15 Oct 1993; Other Information: PBD: Jan 1994
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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