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Title: Transport modeling of the DIII-D high $${{\beta}_{p}}$$ scenario and extrapolations to ITER steady-state operation

Journal Article · · Nuclear Fusion

In this study, transport modeling of a proposed ITER steady-state scenario based on DIII-D high poloidal-beta ($${{\beta}_{p}}$$ ) discharges finds that ITB formation can occur with either sufficient rotation or a negative central shear q-profile. The high $${{\beta}_{p}}$$ scenario is characterized by a large bootstrap current fraction (80%) which reduces the demands on the external current drive, and a large radius internal transport barrier which is associated with excellent normalized confinement. Modeling predictions of the electron transport in the high $${{\beta}_{p}}$$ scenario improve as $${{q}_{95}}$$ approaches levels similar to typical existing models of ITER steady-state and the ion transport is turbulence dominated. Typical temperature and density profiles from the non-inductive high $${{\beta}_{p}}$$ scenario on DIII-D are scaled according to 0D modeling predictions of the requirements for achieving a $Q=5$ steady-state fusion gain in ITER with 'day one' heating and current drive capabilities. Then, TGLF turbulence modeling is carried out under systematic variations of the toroidal rotation and the core q-profile. A high bootstrap fraction, high $${{\beta}_{p}}$$ scenario is found to be near an ITB formation threshold, and either strong negative central magnetic shear or rotation in a high bootstrap fraction are found to successfully provide the turbulence suppression required to achieve $Q=5$.

Research Organization:
General Atomics, San Diego, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
Grant/Contract Number:
FC02-04ER54698
OSTI ID:
1374040
Journal Information:
Nuclear Fusion, Vol. 57, Issue 11; ISSN 0029-5515
Publisher:
IOP ScienceCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 19 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

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Cited By (5)

Transport barriers in bootstrap-driven tokamaks journal May 2018
Progress of physics understanding for long pulse high-performance plasmas on EAST towards the steady-state operation of ITER and CFETR journal December 2019
Scaling laws from theory-based modeling for different regimes in the DEMO fusion reactor journal July 2019
Shafranov shift bifurcation of turbulent transport in the high β p scenario on DIII-D journal September 2019
The dominant micro-turbulence instabilities in the lower q 95 high β p plasmas on DIII-D and predict-first extrapolation journal November 2019