HIGH PERFORMANCE STATIONARY DISCHARGES IN THE DIII-D TOKAMAK
Recent experiments in the DIII-D tokamak [J.L. Luxon, Nucl. Fusion 42,614 (2002)] have demonstrated high {beta} with good confinement quality under stationary conditions. Two classes of stationary discharges are observed--low q{sub 95} discharges with sawteeth and higher q{sub 95} without sawteeth. The discharges are deemed stationary when the plasma conditions are maintained for times greater than the current profile relaxation time. In both cases the normalized fusion performance ({beta}{sub N}H{sub 89P}/q{sub 95}{sup 2}) reaches or exceeds the value of this parameter projected for Q{sub fus} = 10 in the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) design [R. Aymar, et al., Plasma Phys. Control. Fusion 44, 519 (2002)]. The presence of sawteeth reduces the maximum achievable normalized {beta}, while confinement quality (confinement time relative to scalings) is largely independent of q{sub 95}. Even with the reduced {beta} limit, the normalized fusion performance maximizes at the lowest q{sub 95}. Projections to burning plasma conditions are discussed, including the methodology of the projection and the key physics issues which still require investigation.
- Research Organization:
- General Atomics, San Diego, CA (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC03-99ER54463
- OSTI ID:
- 828532
- Report Number(s):
- GA-A24513; TRN: US0701774
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 45th ANNUAL MEETING OF DIVISION OF PLASMA PHYSICS, ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO,OCTOBER 27-31,2003 AND TO BE PUBLISHED IN PHYS. PLASMAS.
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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