Kinetic-ballooning-limited pedestals in spherical tokamak plasmas

Parisi, J. F.; Guttenfelder, W.; Nelson, A. O.; Gaur, R.; Kleiner, A.; Lampert, M.; Avdeeva, G.; Berkery, J. W.; Clauser, C.; Curie, M.; Diallo, A.; Dorland, W.; Kaye, S. M.; McClenaghan, J.; Parra, F. I.

doi:10.1088/1741-4326/ad39fb

Title: Kinetic-ballooning-limited pedestals in spherical tokamak plasmas

Journal Article · 10 April 2024 · Nuclear Fusion

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1088/1741-4326/ad39fb · OSTI ID:2336637

; Guttenfelder, W.;

;

; Lampert, M.;

;

; McClenaghan, J.; Parra, F. I.

Abstract A theoretical model is presented that for the first time matches experimental measurements of the pedestal width-height Diallo scaling in the low-aspect-ratio high- β tokamak NSTX. Combining linear gyrokinetics with self-consistent pedestal equilibrium variation, kinetic-ballooning, rather than ideal-ballooning plasma instability, is shown to limit achievable confinement in spherical tokamak pedestals. Simulations are used to find the novel Gyrokinetic Critical Pedestal constraint, which determines the steepest pressure profile a pedestal can sustain subject to gyrokinetic instability. Gyrokinetic width-height scaling expressions for NSTX pedestals with varying density and temperature profiles are obtained. These scalings for STs depart significantly from that of conventional aspect ratio tokamaks.

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Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE

Grant/Contract Number:: SC0022270

OSTI ID:: 2336637

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 2333081; OSTI ID: 2341792

Journal Information:: Nuclear Fusion, Journal Name: Nuclear Fusion Journal Issue: 5 Vol. 64; ISSN 0029-5515

Publisher:: IOP PublishingCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: IAEA

Language:: English

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