First results from Alcator-C-MOD

Journal Article · Sun May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1994 · Physics of Plasmas; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.870701· OSTI ID:5006663

Hutchinson, I H; Boivin, R; Bombarda, F; Bonoli, P; Fairfax, S; Fiore, C; Goetz, J; Golovato, S; Granetz, R; Greenwald, M; Horne, S; Hubbard, A; Irby, J; LaBombard, B; Lipschultz, B; Marmar, E; McCracken, G; Porkolab, M; Rice, J; Snipes, J ; Takase, Y; Terry, J; Wolfe, S; Christensen, C; Garnier, D; Graf, M; Hsu, T; Luke, T; May, M; Niemczewski, A; Tinios, G; Schachter, J; Urbahn, J ^[1]

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1. Plasma Fusion Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139 (United States)

Early operation of the Alcator-C-MOD tokamak [I.H. Hutchinson, [ital Proceedings] [ital of] [ital IEEE] 13[ital th] [ital Symposium] [ital on] [ital Fusion] [ital Engineering], Knoxville, TN, edited by M. Lubell, M. Nestor, and S. Vaughan (Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers, New York, 1990), Vol. 1, p. 13] is surveyed. Reliable operation, with plasma current up to 1 MA, has been obtained, despite the massive conducting superstructure and the associated error fields. However, vertical disruptions are not slowed by the long vessel time constant. With pellet fueling, peak densities up to 9[times]10[sup 20] m[sup [minus]3] have been attained and snakes'' are often seen. Initial characterization of divertor and scrape-off layer is presented and indicates approximately Bohm diffusion. The edge plasma shows a wealth of marfe-like phenomena, including a transition to detachment from the divertor plates with accompanying radiative divertor regions. Energy confinement generally appears to exceed the expectations of neo-Alcator scaling. A transition to Ohmic H mode has been observed. Ion cyclotron heating experiments have demonstrated good power coupling, in agreement with theory.

• DOE Contract Number: AC02-78ET51013
• OSTI ID: 5006663
• Journal Information: Physics of Plasmas; (United States), Journal Name: Physics of Plasmas; (United States) Vol. 1:5; ISSN PHPAEN; ISSN 1070-664X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
700410* -- Specific Fusion Devices & Experiments-- (1992-)
ALCATOR DEVICE
CLOSED PLASMA DEVICES
CYCLOTRON RESONANCE
DESIGN
DIVERTORS
FLUID MECHANICS
HEATING
HYDRODYNAMICS
ION CYCLOTRON-RESONANCE
MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMICS
MECHANICS
PERFORMANCE
PLASMA DIAGNOSTICS
PLASMA HEATING
RESONANCE
THERMONUCLEAR DEVICES
TOKAMAK DEVICES