Predictions of core plasma performance for the SPARC tokamak
Abstract
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.
- Authors:
-
[1];
[1];
[1];
[2];
[1];
[1];
[1];
[1]
- Massachusetts Inst. of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA (United States). Plasma Science and Fusion Center
- Commonwealth Fusion Systems, Cambridge, MA (United States)
- Univ. of California, San Diego, CA (United States)
- Publication Date:
- Research Org.:
- Univ. of California, San Diego, CA (United States)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE Office of Science (SC), Fusion Energy Sciences (FES); USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES). Scientific User Facilities Division
- OSTI Identifier:
- 1705066
- Grant/Contract Number:
- SC0018287; AC02-05CH11231
- Resource Type:
- Accepted Manuscript
- Journal Name:
- Journal of Plasma Physics
- Additional Journal Information:
- Journal Volume: 86; Journal Issue: 5; Journal ID: ISSN 0022-3778
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY; plasma simulation; fusion plasma; plasma confinement
Citation Formats
Rodriguez-Fernandez, Pablo, Howard, N. T., Greenwald, M. J., Creely, A. J., Hughes, J. W., Wright, J. C., Holland, C., Lin, Y., and Sciortino, F. Predictions of core plasma performance for the SPARC tokamak. United States: N. p., 2020.
Web. doi: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. Predictions of core plasma performance for the SPARC tokamak. United States. 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., and Sciortino, F. Tue .
"Predictions of core plasma performance for the SPARC tokamak". United States. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0022377820001075. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1705066.
@article{osti_1705066,
title = {Predictions of core plasma performance for the SPARC tokamak},
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.},
abstractNote = {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},
journal = {Journal of Plasma Physics},
number = 5,
volume = 86,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Sep 29 00:00:00 EDT 2020},
month = {Tue Sep 29 00:00:00 EDT 2020}
}
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