SPARC is designed to be a high-field, medium-size tokamak aimed at achieving net energy gain with ion cyclotron range-of-frequencies (ICRF) as its primary auxiliary heating mechanism. Empirical predictions with conservative physics indicate that SPARC baseline plasmas would reach $$\textit{Q}$$ ≈ 11, which is well above its mission objective of $$\textit{Q}$$ > 2. To build confidence that SPARC will be successful, physics-based integrated modelling has also been performed. The TRANSP code coupled with the theory-based trapped gyro-Landau fluid (TGLF) turbulence model and EPED predictions for pedestal stability find that $$\textit{Q}$$ ≈ 9 is attainable in standard H-mode operation and confirms $$\textit{Q}$$ > 2 operation is feasible even with adverse assumptions. In this analysis, ion cyclotron waves are simulated with the full wave TORIC code and alpha heating is modelled with the Monte–Carlo fast ion NUBEAM module. Detailed analysis of expected turbulence regimes with linear and nonlinear CGYRO simulations is also presented, demonstrating that profile predictions with the TGLF reduced model are in reasonable agreement.
Rodriguez-Fernandez, Pablo, et al. "Predictions of core plasma performance for the SPARC tokamak." Journal of Plasma Physics, vol. 86, no. 5, Sep. 2020. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0022377820001075
Rodriguez-Fernandez, Pablo, Howard, N. T., Greenwald, M. J., Creely, A. J., Hughes, J. W., Wright, J. C., Holland, C., Lin, Y., & Sciortino, F. (2020). Predictions of core plasma performance for the SPARC tokamak. Journal of Plasma Physics, 86(5). https://doi.org/10.1017/s0022377820001075
Rodriguez-Fernandez, Pablo, Howard, N. T., Greenwald, M. J., et al., "Predictions of core plasma performance for the SPARC tokamak," Journal of Plasma Physics 86, no. 5 (2020), https://doi.org/10.1017/s0022377820001075
@article{osti_1705066,
author = {Rodriguez-Fernandez, Pablo and Howard, N. T. and Greenwald, M. J. and Creely, A. J. and Hughes, J. W. and Wright, J. C. and Holland, C. and Lin, Y. and Sciortino, F.},
title = {Predictions of core plasma performance for the SPARC tokamak},
annote = {SPARC is designed to be a high-field, medium-size tokamak aimed at achieving net energy gain with ion cyclotron range-of-frequencies (ICRF) as its primary auxiliary heating mechanism. Empirical predictions with conservative physics indicate that SPARC baseline plasmas would reach $\textit{Q}$ ≈ 11, which is well above its mission objective of $\textit{Q}$ > 2. To build confidence that SPARC will be successful, physics-based integrated modelling has also been performed. The TRANSP code coupled with the theory-based trapped gyro-Landau fluid (TGLF) turbulence model and EPED predictions for pedestal stability find that $\textit{Q}$ ≈ 9 is attainable in standard H-mode operation and confirms $\textit{Q}$ > 2 operation is feasible even with adverse assumptions. In this analysis, ion cyclotron waves are simulated with the full wave TORIC code and alpha heating is modelled with the Monte–Carlo fast ion NUBEAM module. Detailed analysis of expected turbulence regimes with linear and nonlinear CGYRO simulations is also presented, demonstrating that profile predictions with the TGLF reduced model are in reasonable agreement.},
doi = {10.1017/s0022377820001075},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1705066},
journal = {Journal of Plasma Physics},
issn = {ISSN 0022-3778},
number = {5},
volume = {86},
place = {United States},
publisher = {Cambridge University Press},
year = {2020},
month = {09}}
Univ. of California, San Diego, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Fusion Energy Sciences (FES); USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES). Scientific User Facilities Division
Grant/Contract Number:
SC0018287; AC02-05CH11231
OSTI ID:
1705066
Journal Information:
Journal of Plasma Physics, Journal Name: Journal of Plasma Physics Journal Issue: 5 Vol. 86; ISSN 0022-3778