Integration of full divertor detachment with improved core confinement for tokamak fusion plasmas
Journal Article
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· Nature Communications
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- Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Hefei (China); General Atomics
- General Atomics, San Diego, CA (United States)
- Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Hefei (China); Oak Ridge Associated Univ., Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
- Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Hefei (China)
- Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
- Sandia National Lab. (SNL-CA), Livermore, CA (United States)
- Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
Divertor detachment offers a promising solution to the challenge of plasma-wall interactions for steady-state operation of fusion reactors. Here, we demonstrate the excellent compatibility of actively controlled full divertor detachment with a high-performance (βN ~ 3, H98 ~ 1.5) core plasma, using high-βp (poloidal beta, βp > 2) scenario characterized by a sustained core internal transport barrier (ITB) and a modest edge transport barrier (ETB) in DIII-D tokamak. The high-βp high-confinement scenario facilitates divertor detachment which, in turn, promotes the development of an even stronger ITB at large radius with a weaker ETB. This self-organized synergy between ITB and ETB, leads to a net gain in energy confinement, in contrast to the net confinement loss caused by divertor detachment in standard H-modes. These results show the potential of integrating excellent core plasma performance with an efficient divertor solution, an essential step towards steady-state operation of reactor-grade plasmas.
- Research Organization:
- General Atomics, San Diego, CA (United States); Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- National Magnetic Confinement Fusion Science Program of China; USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA); USDOE Office of Science (SC), Fusion Energy Sciences (FES)
- Grant/Contract Number:
- AC04-94AL85000; AC52-07NA27344; FC02-04ER54698; NA0003525; SC0010685
- OSTI ID:
- 1768382
- Alternate ID(s):
- OSTI ID: 1845144
OSTI ID: 1871402
- Report Number(s):
- LLNL-JRNL-834527
- Journal Information:
- Nature Communications, Journal Name: Nature Communications Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 12; ISSN 2041-1723
- Publisher:
- Nature Publishing GroupCopyright Statement
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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