Xie Jinlin

Electron Cyclotron Emission Imaging on the EAST Tokamak

An upgraded electron cyclotron emission imaging (ECEI) system consisting of new optics lenses with necessary electronics for receiving and processing signals for two dimension (2D) ECEI diagnostics was installed on EAST. Hyperboloid lens were adopted in the new system to optimize the spatial resolutions. The mixers array of sixteen elements measured the plasma electron cyclotron emission at eight frequencies simultaneously, and the profiles of the electron temperature and its fluctuation in an area of 20 cm (vertical) × 6 cm (horizontal) could then be analyzed. Evolution of sawtooth precursor and crash in EAST was observed.

Capability Assessment of the Equilibrium Field System in KTX

Radial equilibrium of the KTX plasma column is maintained by the vertical field which is produced by the equilibrium field coils. The equilibrium is also affected by the eddy current, which is generated by the coupling of copper shell, plasma and poloidal field coils. An equivalent circuit model is developed to analyze the dynamic performance of equilibrium field coils, without auxiliary power input to equilibrium field coils and passive conductors. Considering the coupling of poloidal field coils, copper shell and plasma, the evolution of spatial distribution of the eddy current density on the copper shell is estimated by finite element to analyze the effect of shell to balance. The simulation results show that the copper shell and equilibrium field coils can provide enough vertical field to balance 1 MA plasma current in phase 1 of a KTX discharge. Auxiliary power supply on the EQ coils is necessary to control the horizontal displacement of KTX due to the finite resistance effect of the shell.

Experimental and Simulational Studies on the Theoretical Model of the Plasma Absorption Probe

Plasma absorption probe (PAP) was developed for measuring the electron density in plasmas processing based on the surface-wave characteristics. In order to diagnose the plasma with lower density and higher pressure, a sensitive PAP was also developed. Both types of PAP were analyzed theoretically under the quasi-static approximation, which is highly problematic when a conductor exists in the resonance region of the probe. For this reason, a theoretical model for the PAP is presented in this paper. The model is derived from the electromagnetic wave equation. Its principle is then verified via experiments and numerical simulations. Both experimental and numerical results show that the electromagnetic theoretical model is valid as compared with the quasi-static model. Consequently, a new type of PAP, named as the electromagnetic PAP, is thus proposed for the measurement of electron density.

Electron Cyclotron Emission Imaging Observations of m / n =1/1 and Higher Harmonic Modes during Sawtooth Oscillation in ICRF Heating Plasma on EAST

The m/n = 1/1 and its higher harmonic modes are observed in sawtooth oscillations by using the novel high-resolution 2D ECE imaging system on the experimental advanced superconducting Tokamak (EAST). Higher harmonic modes are appearing for a short time during the crash phase of sawtooth oscillation in lower βp plasma, which is not the preferable position in the poloidal cross section. These modes generate sharp pressure points on the inversion radius during the crash phase of sawtooth oscillation. Furthermore, reconnection events proceed in two distinctive phases. In the first phase, a small amount of heat is expelled through the weak reconnection while in the second phase the remaining large quantity of heat and particles emerged rapidly from the hot core to the peripheral region of the inversion radius. In addition, these harmonic modes are only found before and after the ICRF pulse, while in the ICRF pulse only the (1,1) mode exists in the sawtooth oscillation.

Internal Magnetic Configuration Measured by ECE Imaging on EAST Tokamak

ECE imaging (electron cyclotron emission imaging) is an important diagnostic which can give 2D imaging of temperature fluctuation in the core of tokamak. A method based on ECE imaging is introduced which can give the information of the position of magnetic axis and the structure of internal magnetic surface for EAST tokamak. The EFIT equilibrium reconstruction is not reliable due to the absence of important core diagnostic at the initial phase for EAST, so the information given by ECE imaging could help to improve the accuracy of EFIT equilibrium reconstruction.

Usage of Displaced Current in Langmuir Probe Measurement

We investigate the possibility of the usage of displaced current in Langmuir probe measurement theoretically and experimentally The displaced current flows through the self-generated or artificial capacitance of the reference electrode under an alternative sweep voltage. It can increase the total current afforded by the reference electrode, and eliminate the interference deriving from the finite plasma sheath resistance of the reference electrode. The results in both theory and experiment lead to the conclusion that the usage of displaced current is valid and more efficient with a floating probe method. This method is applied in some harsh plasma environments when the grounded chamber wall can easily be contaminated by the dielectric.

Monopole Antenna Probe for Density Measurements in Cold Plasmas

A simple diagnostic tool for density measurements in plasma with a certain spatial resolution is proposed in this paper. It uses the emission characteristics of monopole antenna to determine the dielectic property of plasma = 1 − fp2/f2, with the fp electron plasma frequency related to plasma density. We immersed a monopole antenna probe into plasma and introduced a microwave signal via a network analyzer. When the emitted power is maximized, the reflected power is minimized and there occurs a resonance. Since can be derived from the resonant frequency, this is actually a method to measure the absolute electron density. Validated by a comparison with the amended Langmuir double-probe method, the monopole antenna probe is valuable. In addition, it is free from the difficulties, such as fluctuation in plasma potential.

Identification of Low-Frequency Zonal Flow in a Linear Magnetic Plasma Device

A low-frequency (f < 2 kHz) potential structure (LFPS) is observed in a linear magnetic plasma device using Langmuir probe arrays. The center frequency of this structure is near zero. This structure has azimuthal and axial symmetries while with a finite radial wavenumber. The complete 3D spectra features of this structure have been identified to have the characteristics expected for zonal flows.

Properties of Density Fluctuations Induced by Geodesic Acoustic Mode in the Edge of HT-7 Tokamak

Properties of the geodesic acoustic mode (GAM) density fluctuations are studied using two toroidally separated Langmuir triple-probe arrays on the top of HT-7 tokamak. The GAM scenario is identified in the potential fluctuations with the toroidally symmetric structure (n = 0) and satisfying the temperature scaling of GAM mode frequency. Some theoretical predictions about the mode features of GAM density fluctuations are verified in our experiments: the toroidal mode number of GAM density fluctuations is n = 0; its amplitude is consistent with the theoretical prediction in a factor of 2; the density and potential fluctuations of GAM is in anti-phase at the top of plasma cross-section. Strong nonlinear interactions are found between GAM density fluctuations and ambient turbulence (AT). The results support the conclusions that the envelope modulation of potential fluctuations is dominantly caused by the direct regulation of GAM in the generation processing, and the envelope modulation of density fluctuation is due to the GAM shear effect.

Observation of Low Frequency Instability in a Magnetized Plasma Column

Detailed analysis of the low frequency instability is performed in a linear magnetized steady state plasma device. Identification and modification of the instability are presented.