M. Beurskens

JET ITER-like wall—overview and experimental programme*

This paper reports the successful installation of the JET ITER-like wall and the realization of its technical objectives. It also presents an overview of the planned experimental programme which has been optimized to exploit the new wall and other JET enhancements in 2011/12.

High resolution Thomson scattering for Joint European Torus (JET)

A Thomson scattering system is being developed for Joint European Torus with 15u2002mm spatial resolution and a foreseen accuracy for temperature better than 15% at a density of 1019u2002m−3. This resolution is required at the internal transport barrier and edge pedestal and it can not be fully achieved with the present light detection and ranging systems. The laser for this system is Nd:YAG, 5 Joule, 20u2002Hz. Scattering volumes from R=2.9u2002m to R=3.9u2002m are imaged onto 1u2002mm diameter fibers, with F/25 collection aperture. Two fibers are used per scattering volume. Using optical delay lines, three scattering volumes are combined in each of the 21 filter polychromators. The signals are recorded with transient digitizers, which allow the combined time delayed signals to be resolved. Knowledge of the time delay between signals allows the use of correlation techniques in determining signal levels. The ac output of the amplifier is used, which tolerates a higher level of background signal without affecting dynamic range. T...

Active control of type-I edge localized modes on JET

The operational domain for active control of type-I edge localized modes (ELMs) with an n = 1 external magnetic perturbation field induced by the ex-vessel error field correction coils on JET has been developed towards more ITER-relevant regimes with high plasma triangularity, up to 0.45, high normalized beta, up to 3.0, plasma current up to 2.0u2009MA and q95 varied between 3.0 and 4.8. The results of ELM mitigation in high triangularity plasmas show that the frequency of type-I ELMs increased by a factor of 4 during the application of the n = 1 fields, while the energy loss per ELM, ΔW/W, decreased from 6% to below the noise level of the diamagnetic measurement (<2%). No reduction of confinement quality (H98Y) during the ELM mitigation phase has been observed. The minimum n = 1 perturbation field amplitude above which the ELMs were mitigated increased with a lower q95 but always remained below the n = 1 locked mode threshold. The first results of ELM mitigation with n = 2 magnetic perturbations on JET demonstrate that the frequency of ELMs increased from 10 to 35u2009Hz and a wide operational window of q95 from 4.5 to 3.1 has been found.

Density pump-out compensation during type-I edge localized mode control experiments with n = 1 perturbation fields on JET

Experiments to balance the density pump-out effect during edge localized mode (ELM) control through the application of an n = 1 magnetic perturbation in type-I H-mode plasmas at JET are presented, ...

Hybrid H-mode scenario with nitrogen seeding and type III ELMs in JET

The performance of the hybrid H-mode regime (long pulse operation with high neutron fluency) has been extensively investigated in JET during the 2005-2007 experimental campaign up to normalized pressure beta(N) = 3, toroidal magnetic field B-t = 1.7T, with type I ELMs plasma edge conditions. The optimized external current drive sources, self-generated non-inductive bootstrap current and plasma core stability properties provide a good prospect of achieving a high fusion gain at reduced plasma current for long durations in ITER. One of the remaining issues is the erosion of the divertor target plates associated with the type I ELM regime. A possible solution could be to operate with a plasma edge in the type III ELM regime (reduced transient and stationary heat loads) obtained with impurity seeding. An integrated hybrid type III ELM regime with a normalized pressure beta(N) = 2.6 (PNBI similar to 20-22 MW) and a thermal confinement factor of H-98* 98(y, 2) similar to 0.83 has been recently successfully developed on JET with nitrogen seeding. This scenario shows good plasma edge condition (compatible with the future ITER-like wall on JET) and moderate MHD activity. In this paper, we report on the experimental development of the scenario (with plasma current I-p = 1.7MA and magnetic field B-t = 1.7T) and the trade-off between heat load reduction at the target plates and global confinement due to nitrogen seeding and type III ELM working conditions.

Density peaking in low collisionality ELMy H-mode in JET

Low collisionality, low particle source. ELMy H-modes (type-III) with sawteeth are produced in JET in order to address the question of density profile evolution in the reference q(95) = 3 ITER scenario. The paper focuses on particle transport in the core zone around the mid-radius. The pedestal region including ELMs and the region affected by sawteeth are not considered. By replacing a significant part of the neutral beam heating by RF power the beam particle flux at mid-radius has been reduced to Gamma(Beam)/n(e) = 0.07 m s(-1). The additional flux due to wall neutrals is estimated as Gamma(Wall)/n(e) = 0.12 m s(-1). Density profiles are found to be modestly peaked under these conditions with a relative density difference of Deltan/(n) = 0.23 across the zone not affected by sawteeth and ELMs. In a region around the mid-radius the ratio of effective particle diffusivity to electron thermal diffusivity is found to be D-e,D-eff/chi(e) approximate to 0.2, which might indicate an anomalous pinch provided the particle diffusivity D-e is sufficiently lame. The measured values of D-e,D-eff/chi(e) are at the lower end of the range used in ITER models.

Effect of toroidal field ripple on the formation of internal transport barriers

The effect of a toroidal field (TF) ripple on the formation and performance of internal transport barriers (ITBs) has been studied in JET. It was found that the TF ripple had a profound effect on the toroidal plasma rotation. An increased TF ripple up to delta = 1% led to a lower rotation and reduced the rotational shear in the region where the ITBs were formed. ITB triggering events were observed in all cases and it is thought that the rotational shear may be less important for this process than, for example, the q-profile. However, the increase in the pressure gradient following the ITB trigger was reduced in discharges with a larger TF ripple and consequently a lower rotational shear. This suggests that toroidal rotation and its shear play a role in the growth of the ITB once it has been triggered.

Status of the JET LIDAR Thomson Scattering diagnostic

The LIDAR Thomson scattering concept was proposed in 1983 and then implemented for the first time on the JET tokamak in 1987. A number of modifications were performed and published in 1995, but since then no major changes were made for almost 15 years. In 2010 a refurbishment of the diagnostic was started, with as main goals to improve its performance and to test the potential of new detectors which are considered as candidates for ITER. During the subsequent years a wide range of activities was performed aimed at increasing the diagnostics light throughput, improvement of signal to noise ratio and amendment of the calibration procedures. Previously used MA-2 detectors were replaced by fast GaAsP detectors with much higher average QE. After all the changes were implemented, a significant improvement of the measured data was achieved. Statistical errors of measured temperature and density were reduced by a factor of 2 or more, depending on plasma conditions, and comfortably surpassed the values requested for ITER Core Thomson Scattering (10% for Te and 5% for ne). Excellent agreement with other diagnostics (conventional High Resolution Thomson Scattering, ECE, Reflectometer) was achieved over a wide range of plasma conditions. It was demonstrated that together with long term reliability and modest access port requirements, LIDAR can provide measurements of a quality similar to a conventional imaging Thomson Scattering instrument.

Note: statistical errors estimation for Thomson scattering diagnostics.

A practical way of estimating statistical errors of a Thomson scattering diagnostic measuring plasma electron temperature and density is described. Analytically derived expressions are successfully tested with Monte Carlo simulations and implemented in an automatic data processing code of the JET LIDAR diagnostic.

Innovative diagnostics for ITER physics addressed in JET

In recent years, JET diagnostic capability has been significantly improved to widen the range of physical phenomena that can be studied and thus contribute to the understanding of some ITER relevant issues. The most significant results reported in this paper refer to the plasma wall interactions, the interplay between core and edge physics and fast particles. A synergy between new infrared cameras, visible cameras and spectroscopy diagnostics has allowed investigating a series of new aspects of the plasma wall interactions. The power loads on the plasma facing components of JET main chambers have been assessed at steady state and during transient events like ELMs and disruptions. Evidence of filaments in the edge region of the plasma has been collected with a new fast visible camera and high resolution Thomson scattering. The physics of detached plasmas and some new aspects of dust formation have also been devoted particular attention. The influence of the edge plasma on the core has been investigated with upgraded active spectroscopy, providing new information on momentum transport and the effects of impurity injection on ELMs and ITBs and their interdependence. Given the fact that JET is the only machine with a plasma volume big enough to confine the alphas, a coherent programme of diagnostic developments for the energetic particles has been undertaken. With upgraded γ-ray spectroscopy and a new scintillator probe, it is now possible to study both the redistribution and the losses of the fast particles in various plasma conditions.