I. N. Chugunov

Energy resolution of gamma-ray spectroscopy of JET plasmas with a LaBr3 scintillator detector and digital data acquisition.

A new high efficiency, high resolution, fast γ-ray spectrometer was recently installed at the JET tokamak. The spectrometer is based on a LaBr3(Ce) scintillator coupled to a photomultiplier tube. A digital data acquisition system is used to allow spectrometry with event rates in excess of 1 MHz expected in future JET DT plasmas. However, at the lower rates typical of present day experiments, digitization can degrade the energy resolution of the system, depending on the algorithms used for extracting pulse height information from the digitized pulses. In this paper, the digital and analog spectrometry methods were compared for different experimental conditions. An algorithm based on pulse shape fitting was developed, providing energy resolution equivalent to the traditional analog spectrometry method.

Development of gamma-ray diagnostics for ITER

Gamma-ray spectrometry is a diagnostic tool for fast ions in large tokamak plasmas. The information provided allows us to identify and simultaneously distinguish the presence of fast α-particles and other ions (H, D, T, 3He) to obtain information on their energy distribution and relative densities, in addition to performing a tomographic radial profile reconstruction of the γ-emission sources. The lack of vertical diagnostic ports in ITER makes the implementation of tomographic neutron and γ-ray systems more complicated. The use of a vertical divertor port for the implementation of a vertical viewpoint is currently suggested. The strong magnetic field (~2 T) found there makes it hard to use conventional multi-dynode photomultipliers as light detectors. Instead, the use of micro-channel plate photomultipliers is suggested here. Investigations of the magnetic field impact on the performance of the γ-spectrometer with a micro-channel photomultiplier are carried out. A high-speed pulse height analysis technique, which allows us to trace gain changes in the photomultiplier tube, is developed at the Ioffe Institute. The tests demonstrate the feasibility of γ-spectrometric measurements in the divertor port provided that micro-channel photomultiplier detectors and the developed high-speed technique are used.

Reconstruction of distribution functions of fast ions and runaway electrons in fusion plasmas using gamma-ray spectrometry with applications to ITER

Gamma-ray spectrometry on ITER can provide information both on confined fusion alpha particles for optimization of plasma heating and runaway electrons, which is important for safe reactor operations. For the purpose of deconvolution of gamma-ray spectra recorded in fusion plasma experiments the DeGaSum code has been developed. The code can be applied for processing of both spectra of monoenergetic gamma rays, which are born in nuclear reactions produced by alpha particles and other fast ions, and continuous bremsstrahlung spectra generated by runaway electrons in the MeV range in the plasma and reactor structure materials. Gamma-ray spectrometer response functions and bremsstrahlung spectra generated by electrons in the MeV energy range are calculated and used in the DeGaSum code. The deconvolution of the discrete spectra allows the identification of nuclear reactions, which give rise to gamma rays, and the calculation of their intensities. By applying the code for continuous hard x-ray spectra, the runaway electron energy distribution can be inferred. It can provide the maximal energy of runaway electrons with accuracy, which satisfies the ITER project requirements. The code has been used for processing of spectra recorded in JET experiments. An application of the deconvolution technique for gamma-ray emission measurements on ITER is discussed.

Investigation of beam– and wave–plasma interactions in spherical tokamak Globus-M

The experimental and theoretical results obtained in the last two years on the interaction of neutral particle beams and high-frequency waves with a plasma using the spherical tokamak Globus-M are discussed. The experiments on the injection of low-energy proton beam of ~300 eV directed particle energy are performed with a plasma gun that produces a hydrogen plasma jet of density up to 3 × 1022 m−3 and a high velocity up to 250 km s−1. A moderate density rise (up to 30%) is achieved in the central plasma region without plasma disruption. Experiments on high-energy (up to 30 keV) neutral beam injection into the D-plasma are analysed. Modelling results on confinement of fast particles inside the plasma column that follows the neutral beam injection are discussed. The influence of the magnetic field on the fast particle losses is argued. A neutral beam injection regime with primary ion heating is obtained and discussed. The new regime with fast current ramp-up and early neutral beam injection shows electron temperature rise and formation of broad Te profiles until the q = 1 flux surface enters the plasma column. An energetic particle mode in the range of frequencies 5–30 kHz and toroidal Alfven eigenmodes in the range 50–300 kHz are recorded in that regime simultaneously with the Te rise. The energetic particle mode and toroidal Alfven eigenmodes behaviour are discussed. The toroidal Alfven eigenmode spectrum appears in Globus-M as a narrow band corresponding to n = 1. The first experimental results on plasma start-up and noninductive current drive generation are presented. The experiments are carried out with antennae providing mostly poloidal slowing down of waves with a frequency of 920 MHz, which is higher than a lower hybrid one existing under the experimental conditions. The high current drive efficiency is shown to be high (of about 0.25 A W−1), and its mechanism is proposed. Some near future plans of the experiments are also discussed.

Development of a technique for high-speed γ-ray spectrometry

A technique for high-speed γ-ray spectrometry was developed for γ-ray diagnostic experiments on the ITER tokamak and tested at the Ioffe Physico-Technical Institute on the cyclotron and the GLOBUS-M and TUMAN-3M tokamaks. This technique was used to upgrade the γ-ray diagnostic system of the JET tokamak. It was shown by the tests that the new technique compares favorably to the traditional one in that it allows the limiting counting rate of the spectrometer to be increased by at least an order of magnitude without noticeable deterioration of its energy resolution.

Studies of runaway electrons in the Globus-M tokamak

Results are presented from experimental studies of runaway electrons in the ohmic heating regime in the Globus-M tokamak. The periodical hard X-ray bursts observed with the help of two hard X-ray spectrometers with high time resolution are attributed to MHD oscillations in the plasma core and at the periphery.

Application of deconvolution methods to gamma-radiation spectra of thermonuclear plasma

The possibility of application of deconvolution methods to solving the problem of reconstruction of gamma-radiation spectra of thermonuclear plasma is demonstrated. The DEGAS code is created, which implements the modified algorithms of deconvolution. The results of the code application to the test spectra, the discrete spectra of radiation sources, and the gamma spectra measured during the experiments at the JET tokamak using methods for additional plasma heating are presented. The possibility of reconstruction of spectra with low statistics is shown.

Alfvén oscillations in ohmic discharges with runaway electrons in the TUMAN-3M tokamak

Studying the mechanism of Alfvén wave generation in plasma is important, since the interaction of these waves with energetic particles in tokamak-type reactors can increase the losses of energy and particles with the corresponding decrease in the efficiency of plasma heating and, under certain conditions, lead to the damage of structural elements of the system. Despite the previous detailed investigations of the excitation of Alfvén waves by superthermal particles in regimes with additional heating, the physics of Alfvén mode generation in discharges with ohmic heating of plasma is still not sufficiently studied. We have established that a significant factor inf luencing the development of Alfvén oscillations in ohmic discharge is the presence of runaway electrons. A physical mechanism explaining this relationship is proposed.

Doppler shapes of the γ line in the 9Be(α, nγ)12C reaction in plasma at temperatures Tα < 0.6 MeV

A parametrization of the partial cross section of the 9Be(α, nγ)12C reaction in the α-particle energy range of 0.3–7.9 MeV is presented, along with the count rates of γ quanta. The need to consider subbarrier (Eα < 1.9 MeV) α-particles in plasma for temperatures Tα < 0.2 MeV is substantiated. The shapes of the Doppler-broadened 4.44 MeV γ line and the count rates of γ quanta in the plasma of the JET tokamak are measured for the first time and compared to the calculated values. An estimated Tα ≲ 160 keV is obtained.

Energy dependence of the n-γ angular correlation in the 9Be(α, nγ)12C reaction

A technique for selecting the parameters required for describing the angular correlation function and finding their energy dependence has been developed. Joint analysis of a Doppler-broadened 4.44 MeV γ lineshape from the 9Be(α, nγ)12C reaction in the range 1.9–4.5 MeV of Eα energies and with n- and γ-angular distributions was performed. The Doppler-broadened lineshapes were modeled and compared using data measured in the JET plasma experiment. Relativistic effects were analyzed.