R. Minami

Extended consolidation of scaling laws of potential formation and effects covering the representative Tandem mirror operations in GAMMA 10

Scaling laws of potential formation and associated effects along with their physical interpretations are consolidated on the basis of experimental verification using the GAMMA 10 tandem mirror. A proposal of extended consolidation and generalization of the two major theories—(i) Cohens strong electron cyclotron heating (ECH) theory for the formation physics of plasma confining potentials and (ii) the generalized Pastukhov theory for the effectiveness of the produced potentials on plasma confinement is made through the use of the energy balance equation. This proposal is then followed by verification using experimental data from two representative operational modes of GAMMA 10, characterized in terms of (i) a high-potential mode having plasma confining potentials of the order of kilovolts and (ii) a hot ion mode yielding fusion neutrons with bulk ion temperatures of 10–20 keV. The importance of the validity of the proposed physics-based scaling is highlighted by the possibility of extended capability inherent in Pastukhovs prediction of requiring an ion confining potential of ~30 kV for a fusion Q value of unity on the basis of an application of Cohens potential formation method. In addition to the above potential physics scaling, an externally controllable parameter scaling of the potential formation increasing with either plug or barrier ECH powers is summarized. The combination of (i) the physics-based scaling of the proposed consolidation of potential formation and effects with (ii) the externally controllable practical ECH power scaling provides a new direction for future tandem mirror studies.

ECRH-Related Technologies for High-Power and Steady-State Operation in LHD

Abstract The electron cyclotron resonance heating (ECRH) system on the Large Helical Device (LHD) has been in stable operation for ~11 yr in numerous plasma experiments. During this time, many upgrades to the system have been made, such as reinforcement of the gyrotron tubes, modification of the power supply depending on gyrotron type, and increase in the number of transmission lines and antennas. These efforts allow the stable injection of millimeter-wave power in excess of 2 MW. In parallel, various transmission components were evaluated, and antenna performance was confirmed at a high power level. The coupling efficiency of the millimeter wave from the gyrotron to the transmission line and the transmission efficiency through the waveguide were further improved in recent years. The feedback control of the wave polarization has also been tried to maximize the efficiency of wave absorption. The gyrotron oscillation frequency was reconsidered in order to extend the flexibility of the magnetic configuration in plasma experiments. The development of 77-GHz gyrotrons with the output of 1 MW per few seconds in a single tube is currently taking place in collaboration with the University of Tsukuba. Two such gyrotron tubes already have been installed and were used for plasma experiments recently. An ECRH system with a capability of the steady operation is required, because the LHD can continuously generate confinement magnetic fields using superconducting magnets. Not only the gyrotron but also the transmission system and components must withstand continuous power operation. Further acceleration of both the power reinforcement and a steady-state capability will allow the sustainment of high-performance plasmas.

EFFECTS OF NEUTRONS ON SEMICONDUCTOR X-RAY DETECTORS INCLUDING N-TYPE JOINT EUROPEAN TORUS AND P-TYPE GAMMA 10 TOMOGRAPHY DETECTORS

Characterization experiments have been carried out so as to investigate the effects of fusion-produced neutrons on the x-ray-energy responses of semiconductor detectors for x-ray tomography in the Joint European Torus (JET) tokamak (n-type silicon) and the GAMMA 10 tandem mirror (p-type silicon). Neutron effects on the x-ray-energy responses of these detectors are studied using synchrotron radiation from a 2.5 GeV positron storage ring at the Photon Factory. Changes in the material properties of the detectors have been investigated using an impedance analyzer to estimate neutron effects on x-ray-sensitive depletion thicknesses. A cyclotron accelerator is employed for well-calibrated neutron irradiation onto these plasma x-ray detectors; a fluence of 2–5×1013 neutrons/cm2 is utilized for simulating the effects of fusion-produced neutrons in JET. Modifications of the x-ray responses after neutron exposure due to fusion plasma shots in JET as well as cyclotron-produced neutron irradiations are found to have ...

Generalization and consolidation of scaling laws of potential formation and associated effects in the GAMMA 10 tandem mirror

Generalized scaling laws for the formation of plasma confining potentials and the associated effectiveness of the potentials produced are systematically investigated to find the physics essentials common to the representative tandem mirror operational modes of GAMMA?10, and to explore novel extended operational modes from the scaling bases constructed. (a)?The potential formation scalings are generalized using a novel finding of wider validity of Cohens strong ECH theory covering the representative modes. (b)?The potentials produced, in turn, provide a favourable novel scaling of the increase in the central cell electron temperatures Te with increasing thermal barrier potentials b, limited by the available ECH power. The scaling of Te with b is well interpreted in terms of the generalized Pastukhov theory of plasma potential confinement. A detailed comparison of the results from several related modified theories is also made. (c)?Consolidation of the two major scalings of (a) and (b) in a tandem mirror is carried out by the use of an electron energy balance equation for the first time. In addition, (d)?an empirical scaling of c with ECH power in the plug region and the central cell densities are studied to discover whether there is the possibility of extending these theoretically well interpreted scaling data to parameters in the future scalable regime. There is also a discussion about numerical scalings in the three dimensional parameter spaces.

A diagnostic method for both plasma ion and electron temperatures under simultaneous incidence of charge-exchange particles and x rays into a semiconductor detector array

An idea for using semiconductor detectors to simultaneously observe both plasma ion Ti and electron Te temperatures is proposed. The idea is also experimentally verified in tandem-mirror plasma shots. This method is developed on the basis of an alternative “positive” use of a semiconductor “dead layer” as an energy-analysis filter. Filtering dependence of charge-exchange neutral particles from plasmas on the thickness of a thin (on the order of nm thick) SiO2 layer is employed for analyzing Ti in the range from hundreds to thousands of eV. Even under the conditions of simultaneous incidence of such particles and x rays into semiconductor detectors, the different dependence on their penetration lengths and deposition depths in semiconductor materials makes it possible to distinguish particles (for Ti) from x rays (for Te). In this letter, proof-of-principle plasma experiments for the proposed idea are carried out to verify the availability of this concept of distinguishing and identifying each value of Ti ...

Newly developed matrix-type semiconductor detector for temporally and spatially resolved x-ray analyses ranging down to a few tens eV using a single plasma shot

For the purpose of the measurements of temporally and spatially resolved electron temperatures (Te) during a single plasma shot alone, we propose and fabricate a new matrix-type semiconductor x-ray detector. This detector is fabricated using the precise formation of thin dead layers (SiO2) with six different thicknesses (from 10 to 5000 A) aligned in line on its surface compactly. Each “row” has seven channels for the measurements of plasma x-ray radial profiles so as to make x-ray tomographic reconstructions; namely, the compact-sized matrix detector having six rows and seven columns with a 5×5 mm2 active area for each matrix unit. These various SiO2 layers are proposed to be utilized as ultrathin “x-ray absorption filters” with different thicknesses, which are never obtained as “self-supporting material absorbers” because of their ultrathin properties. This novel idea enables us to analyze x-ray tomography data including in the Te region down to a few tens eV. The simultaneous comparison of each tomogra...

The Development of a 77-GHz, 1-MW ECRH System for the Large Helical Device

Abstract A 77-GHz, 1-MW gyrotron is being newly installed in the Large Helical Device not only to enhance the total heating power but also to increase the possibility of controlling the local plasma parameters. Our progress in installing the new gyrotron and evaluating its properties is discussed. We have already finished the installation of the peripheral components, including the transmission line, and conducted a test at 1 MW for a short pulse. Our plan is to operate this gyrotron at a power of up to 1 MW for 5 s. The conditioning of the gyrotron has been smoothly conducted, and a gyrotron output power up to 810 kW for 3.6 s has been achieved so far. The total injected power of electron cyclotron resonance heating to the plasma reached a value of [approximately]2.5 MW.

Investigation of x-ray-energy responses of semiconductor detectors under deuterium–tritium fusion-produced neutron irradiation

For the purpose of investigating fusion-produced neutron effects on semiconductor x-ray detectors, detection characteristics of x-ray tomography detectors used before and after deuterium–tritium (DT) and/or DD fusion-plasma experiments in the Joint European Torus (JET) tokamak are studied using synchrotron radiation from a 2.5 GeV positron storage ring at the Photon Factory. Degradations in the responses after neutron exposure into the detectors are found to have functional dependence on x-ray energy. Changes in the depletion thicknesses of the detectors are investigated by means of impedance analyses. The Fusion Neutronics Source (FNS) facility of the Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute is also employed for well calibrated DT fusion-produced neutron irradiation onto these semiconductor x-ray detectors. Recovery of the response degradation is found due to a method for supplying the operational bias to the degraded detector. Our theory is applied to interpret these detector characteristics under the irr...

Recent results of divertor simulation experiments using D-Module in the GAMMA 10/PDX tandem mirror

Abstract This paper describes the recent results of divertor simulation research toward the realization of the detached plasma using the end-mirror of a large tandem mirror device. The additional ion cyclotron range of frequency heating in the anchor-cells for higher particle flux generation significantly increases the density, which attained the highest particle flux up to 1.76 × 1023 particles/·m2 at the end-mirror exit. Massive gas injection (H2 and noble gases) into the divertor simulation experimental module (D-module) was performed, and a remarkable reduction of the electron temperature on the target plate was successfully achieved associated with the strong reduction of particle and heat fluxes in D-module. Two-dimensional images of Hα emission in D-module observed with a high-speed camera showed strong emission in the upstream region and significant reduction near the target plate. These results clarified the effect of radiation cooling and formation of detached plasma due to gas injection. It is also found that Xe gas is much more effective in achieving detached plasma than Ar gas. Numerical simulation studies also have been performed toward the understanding of the cooling mechanism of divertor plasma. The above results will contribute to establishment of detached plasma control and clarification of the radiation cooling mechanism toward the development of future divertor systems.

Tomographic reconstruction of plasma electron temperature profiles using semiconductor detector arrays in the elliptic transition region and the circular central cell of the GAMMA 10 tandem mirror

Abstract Elliptically shaped transition-region plasmas located between circularly shaped central cell and fish-tail shaped anchor-cell plasmas have been observed using X-ray tomography techniques for the first time in the world largest tandem mirror device, GAMMA 10. These three regions are connected through the lines of magnetic forces. Electrons are, therefore, anticipated to move easily through these regions along the magnetic field lines when neither appreciable electron losses into the transverse direction across the magnetic field lines nor the formation of electron transport barrier potentials in the parallel direction are expected. From this viewpoint, comparisons of electron temperature ( T e ) profiles in these regions, thus, give information on one of the most critical issues in tandem mirror plasma confinement. The first data on good agreement in T e profiles of the central cell and the transition region have supported this basic and essential concept of tandem mirror confinement. Development of position sensitive semiconductor-detector arrays and an upgraded X-ray tomography algorithm for analysing elliptically shaped transition-region plasmas are also reported.