T.L. Rhodes

Advanced plasma fluctuation analysis techniques and their impact on fusion research (invited)

This article reviews digital spectral analysis techniques that yield experimental insight into plasma turbulence. Methods to quantify the statistical properties of the fluctuations and to measure the particle and heat flux caused by electrostatic fluctuations are presented. Furthermore, analysis techniques to study the nonlinear coupling process of turbulence and the redistribution of energy among the different modes are discussed. The impact of the analysis techniques on fusion research is demonstrated with experimental results collected with Langmuir probes, heavy‐ion beam probes, and laser scattering in the tokamak TEXT. Special emphasis is given to the characterization of the wavenumber distribution and the correlation lengths in all toroidal directions, including a first measurement of k∥ in a tokamak.This article reviews digital spectral analysis techniques that yield experimental insight into plasma turbulence. Methods to quantify the statistical properties of the fluctuations and to measure the particle and heat flux caused by electrostatic fluctuations are presented. Furthermore, analysis techniques to study the nonlinear coupling process of turbulence and the redistribution of energy among the different modes are discussed. The impact of the analysis techniques on fusion research is demonstrated with experimental results collected with Langmuir probes, heavy‐ion beam probes, and laser scattering in the tokamak TEXT. Special emphasis is given to the characterization of the wavenumber distribution and the correlation lengths in all toroidal directions, including a first measurement of k∥ in a tokamak.

Electron thermal confinement studies with applied resonant fields on TEXT

Externally applied magnetic fields are used on the Texas Experimental Tokamak (TEXT) to study the possibility of controlling the particle, impurity and heat fluxes at the plasma edge. Fields with toroidal mode number n = 2 or 3 and multiple poloidal mode numbers m (dominantly m = 7) are used, with a poloidally and toroidally averaged ratio of radial to toroidal field components 〈|br/Bo〉 ≅0. 1%. Calculations show that it is possible to produce mixed islands and stochastic regions at the plasma edge (r/a ≥ 0.8) without affecting the interior. The expected magnetic field structure is described and experimental evidence of the existence of this structure is presented. The edge electron temperature decreases with increasing 〈|br/Bo〉, while interior values are not significantly affected. The implied increase in edge electron thermal diffusivity is compared with theoretical expectations and is shown to agree with applicable theories to within a factor of three.

Characterization of tokamak edge turbulence by far-infrared laser scattering and Langmuir probes

The spectra, magnitude and spatial distribution of low-frequency (ω ωci) density fluctuation have been measured by two independent experimental methods in the edge plasma of the TEXT tokamak. Good agreement between far-infrared laser scattering and Langmuir probe measurements has been achieved and the strengths of each technique are evaluated. Langmuir probes are used to directly determine the particle flux induced by edge fluctuations (Γ ∝ n×B) and collective Thomson scattering permits an extension of these observations to the plasma interior. Results are presented for typical discharge conditions in a tokamak.

Global particle confinement in the Texas Experimental Tokamak

Particle transport in an ohmically heated tokamak plasma was investigated in the Texas Experimental Tokamak (TEXT). Spectroscopic measurements of the electron source were used with electron density measurements to derive particle confinement times from the continuity equation. Scalings were developed for particle confinement time with electron density, plasma current, toroidal field, and plasma positioning. Simultaneous measurement of electrostatic fluctuations with Langmuir probes may suggest a correlation between edge particle transport in TEXT and electrostatic turbulence. In addition, two major features of transport were isolated. First, transport is poloidally asymmetric at least in the plasma edge. Secondly, in some cases, the particle confinement scalings are closely associated with the scalings for recycling at particular surfaces. Similarities of the TEXT global particle confinement time scalings to those observed in other tokamaks may allow the conclusions of this work to be extended to other devices.

Biased limiter experiments on text

Experiments using an electrically biased limiter have been performed on the Texas Experimental Tokamak (TEXT). A small movable limiter is inserted past the main poloidal ring limiter (which is electrically connected to the vacuum vessel) and biased at VLim with respect to it. The floating potential, plasma potential and shear layer position can be controlled. With ¦VLim¦⩾ 50 V the plasma density increases. For VLim 0 the results obtained are inconclusive. Variation of VLim changes the electrostatic turbulence which may explain the observed total flux changes.

The structure of magnetic fluctuations in tokamaks: Observations in the TEXT tokamak

The structure of the magnetic fluctuations in a tokamak has been determined from extensive measurements using a variety of probes outside the limiter in TEXT [Plasma Phys. Controlled Nucl. Fusion 27, 1335 (1985)]. The spectrum has been measured to 500 kHz, but little energy is present above 150 kHz. The spectrum ranges from low‐frequency, low‐m‐number modes with high coherence to higher m values at higher frequencies, which have limited poloidal and temporal coherence but are specifically correlated with electrostatic fluctuations in the edge. Although these magnetic fluctuations are not directly significant for transport, they are a useful indication of edge turbulence. They are associated with turbulence only inside the limiter. The correlation length along field lines is long, and the phase variation of the correlated components suggests k∥/k⊥ ≂ 0.005. These magnetic signals are consistent with a modest modulation of the plasma resistivity in the edge as in resistivity‐gradient‐driven modes, but the ma...

Plasma fluctuations near the shear layer in the ATF torsatron

Electrostatic turbulence has been investigated in the edge region of the Advanced Toroidal Facility (ATF). A reversal in the poloidal phase velocity of the fluctuations has been observed (velocity shear) which determines a characteristic plasma radius. The location of this shear layer depends on the magnetic configuration, the limiter radius and the plasma conditions. Using the shear position as a reference point, the density fluctuation levels in ATF (currentless stellarator) are very similar to those previously reported in TEXT (ohmically heated tokamak), suggesting that the plasma current is not an important drive for the edge turbulence. The drives for the turbulence appear to be different inside and outside the shear location (ashear), with e/Te 1) and possibly larger e/Te in the plasma edge edge (r/ashear < 1). There is a spatial decorrelation in the fluctuations at the shear location; this suggests that the poloidal shear flow has an important influence on the edge turbulence. The poloidal correlation length depends on local plasma parameters (e.g. velocity and temperature). When neutral beam injection is added, the high frequency components of n increase.

Characteristics of edge plasma turbulence on the ATF torsatron

Measurements of electrostatic fluctuations on the edge of the Advanced Toroidal Facility (ATF) torsatron [Fusion Technol. 10, 179 (1986)] are used to study the role of the edge turbulence in the particle transport in this current‐free magnetic configuration. Spatial profiles of the plasma electron density ne, temperature Te, and fluctuations in density (ne) and in the plasma floating potential (φfu2009) are measured at the edge in electron cyclotron heated plasmas using a Langmuir probe array. At the last closed flux surface (LCFS), r/a≊1, Te≊20–40 eV, and ne≊1012 cm−3 for a line‐averaged electron density ne=(3–6)×1012 cm−3. The relative fluctuation levels decrease as the probe is moved into the core plasma. For Te≳20 eV, ne/ne≊5%, and eφfu2009/Te≊2ne/ne at r/a=0.95. The measured fluctuation spectra are broadband (40–300 kHz) with kρs≊(0.05–0.1), where k is the average wave number of the fluctuations and ρs is the ion Larmor radius at the sound speed. Near the LCFS, the density fluctuations can be approxi...

Fast reciprocating probe system used to study edge turbulence on TEXT

We have combined several techniques in a new and unique way that allows us to measure edge profiles (ne, Te, and φp), their gradients, fluctuations (ne and φf), and fluctuation‐induced heat and particle transport on a single discharge of the TEXT tokamak. To do this we utilize a fast reciprocating probe drive, a four pin Langmuir probe array, and suitable data analysis techniques. With this method, many of the quantities of interest to turbulence studies can be obtained on one discharge. Scaling studies of fluctuations versus free‐energy drives (gradients) are easily carried out and data from such a scan are presented. This method also allows a study of changes to the profiles, fluctuations, and transport caused by perturbations to the plasma (ECH, pellets, etc.) during a single discharge.

Experimental evidence for ion pressure gradient driven turbulence in TEXT

For high density Ohmic discharges in the TEXT tokamak, a distinct ion mode (i.e. density fluctuations propagating in the ion diamagnetic drift direction) is observed in the microturbulence spectra. The magnitude and spectral characteristics of the mode are identified. A microinstability based transport model is used for the purpose of interpreting anomalous confinement properties. Onset of the ion feature occurs at plasma densities where a clear saturation is evident in the global energy confinement time τE. When the ion feature in the fluctuation spectra is strongest, agreement between predictions from the transport model and experimentally measured values of the global energy confinement time is realized if anomalous ion effects due to the ion pressure gradient driven (ηi) instability are included. By injecting pellets, a high density plasma is created in which the density profile is sharply peaked. Under these conditions the ion feature in the fluctuation spectra is suppressed. A possible connection between this experimentally observed ion mode and the theoretically predicted properties of the ηi instability is explored.