Zhipeng Chen

Study of the penetration of resonant magnetic perturbations in J-TEXT

In the J-TEXT tokamak, the penetration of resonant magnetic perturbations (RMPs) has been studied by using a set of in-vessel RMP coils. It is found that, once the RMP amplitude exceeds a critical value, the applied RMP can lead to field penetration and excitation of a large locked mode in the tearing-stable plasma. The sawtooth oscillations disappear and the confinement deteriorates significantly accompanied by tearing mode excitation. For the plasma with an initial high frequency tearing mode, the RMP can suppress the tearing mode, and field penetration followed with a further increased RMP. The relationship between the RMP penetration threshold and the electron density has been investigated for tearing-stable plasmas. It is found that the penetration threshold increases with the density and scales proportionally to in the ranges of (0.7–2.7)xa0×xa01019xa0m−3. Using the experimental parameters as input, the numerical modelling based on two-fluid equations gives the scaling of , which approximately agrees with the experimental density scaling.

Note: A calibration method to determine the lumped-circuit parameters of a magnetic probe

This paper describes a novel method to determine the lumped-circuit parameters of a magnetic inductive probe for calibration by using Helmholtz coils with high frequency power supply (frequency range: 10 kHz-400 kHz). The whole calibration circuit system can be separated into two parts: generator circuit and receiver circuit. By implementing the Fourier transform, two analytical lumped-circuit models, with respect to these separated circuits, are constructed to obtain the transfer function between each other. Herein, the precise lumped-circuit parameters (including the resistance, inductance, and capacitance) of the magnetic probe can be determined by fitting the experimental data to the transfer function. Regarding the fitting results, the finite impedance of magnetic probe can be used to analyze the transmission of a high-frequency signal between magnetic probes, cables, and acquisition system.

The operation region and MHD modes on the J-TEXT tokamak

The operation region and the parameter region of magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) modes are analyzed for J-TEXT Ohmic discharges. The operation region is described by the Hugill diagram, which combines low-q and high density limits. It is found that the operation region has expanded over the years on J-TEXT. In detail, the high density limit has increased from less than 0.5n G to 0.7n G and the low-q limit has lowered from 2.8 to 2.2; this is due to the reduced impurity content that results from coating graphite on the wall. Furthermore, the operation region has further expanded to 0.85n G and q a ~ 2.0, respectively—a result of suppressing the disruptive precursor MHD by using externally-applied resonant magnetic perturbations (RMPs). Here, n G and q a are the Greenwald density limit and edge safety factor, respectively. Corresponding to the results of the operation region, the parameter regions of MHD modes are presented. It is found that a m/n = 2/1 tearing mode (TM) appears for a wide parameters region with 2.4 < q a < 4 and n e < 3 × 1019 m−3—here m and n are the poloidal and toroidal mode numbers. Furthermore, other MHD modes such as m/n = 5/2, 3/1, 4/1 and 7/2, appear only when their rational surfaces are close to the plasma edge or m/n ~ q a, and these MHD modes may transit to a 2/1 TM when changing the plasma parameters. In addition, correlation analysis between the amplitude and frequency of the dominant 2/1 TM for different plasma conditions reveals that there is a threshold between normal discharges and density-limit discharges, which would be a reference to predict density-limit disruptions.

Effect of electrode biasing on m/n = 2/1 tearing modes in J-TEXT experiments

The effects of electrode biasing (EB) on the m/n = 2/1 tearing mode have been experimentally studied in J-TEXT tokamak discharges, where m and n are the poloidal and toroidal mode numbers. It is found that for a negative bias voltage, the mode amplitude is reduced, and the mode frequency is increased accompanied by the increased toroidal plasma rotation speed in the counter-I p direction. For a positive bias voltage, the mode frequency is decreased together with the change of the rotation velocity towards the co-I p direction, and the mode amplitude is increased. Statistic results show that the variations in the toroidal rotation speed, the 2/1 mode frequency and its amplitude linearly depend on the bias voltage. The threshold voltages for complete suppression and locking of the mode are found. The experimental results suggest that applied electrode biasing is a possible method for the avoidance of mode locking and disruption.

The rectangular array of magnetic probes on J-TEXT tokamak

The rectangular array of magnetic probes system was newly designed and installed in the torus on J-TEXT tokamak to measure the local magnetic fields outside the last closed flux surface at a single toroidal angle. In the implementation, the experimental results agree well with the theoretical results based on the Spool model and three-dimensional numerical finite element model when the vertical field was applied. Furthermore, the measurements were successfully used as the input of EFIT code to conduct the plasma equilibrium reconstruction. The calculated Faraday rotation angle using the EFIT output is in agreement with the measured one from the three-wave polarimeter-interferometer system.

The fast reciprocating magnetic probe system on the J-TEXT tokamak

The fast reciprocating magnetic probe (FRMP) system is newly developed on the Joint Texas Experimental Tokamak (J-TEXT) to measure the local magnetic fluctuations at the plasma edge. The magnetic probe array in the FRMP consists of four 2-dimensional magnetic probes arranged at different radial locations to detect local poloidal and radial magnetic fields. These probes are protected by a graphite and boron nitride casing to improve the frequency response of each probe; they are mounted on the head of a movable rod, which is oriented along radial direction at the top of the torus. In the experiments, multiple core diagnostics show that the insertion of the FRMP has little impact on the equilibrium of the plasma. Local magnetic fluctuations inside the last closed flux surface are successfully measured by the FRMP.

Diamagnetic measurements based on the compensation of TF current diffusion in J-TEXT

Due to the existence both of toroidal ripples and toroidal field (TF) current diffusion, the toroidal flux changes with time when the TF current is at the flat-top. A diamagnetic measurement based on the compensation of TF current diffusion has been built in J-TEXT to solve this problem. The measurement system includes a double-loop installed in the vacuum vessel and an array of small printed circuit board (PCB) magnetic probes placed on the mid-plane of one TF coil. A model was proposed to analyze and compensate the effect of TF current diffusion. Experiment results show that the residual flux is about 1 × 10-4 Wb after the compensation and it can meet the need of diamagnetic measurement in J-TEXT.

A new application of retarding field analyzer for the electron and ion temperature measurement on the J-TEXT tokamak

A new application of retarding field analyzer for the electron and ion temperature measurement (named eiRFA) has been realized on the J-TEXT tokamak. A novel bias arrangement is adopted for the eiRFA to implement the simultaneous measurement of the electron and ion temperatures in the scrape-off layer, as well as the floating potential, plasma space potential, and sheath potential drop coefficient. It shows that the temperatures measured by eiRFA are reasonable and the plasma space potential obtained by two means is in good self-consistent. Moreover, the calculation of electron temperature can be modified using the eiRFA.

Research on the effect of resonant magnetic perturbations on disruption limit in J-TEXT tokamak

The effect of resonant magnetic perturbations (RMPs) on high density limit and low-q limit discharges is studied in J-TEXT tokamak. It is found that a moderate amplitude of applied RMPs increases the density limit and delays the disruption, and the disruption precursor is suppressed with a slight reduction in toroidal plasma rotation. A too large amplitude of RMPs, however, leads to a lower density limit and an earlier disruption. For the optimal RMPs amplitude, the disruption is delayed by about 150 ms. For low-q discharges, the applied static RMP can either lower the limit of the edge safety factor q a from 2.15 to nearly 2.0 or sustain stable plasma discharge with q a = 2.1, and the disruptive precursor is also suppressed.

Breakdown assisted by a novel electron drift injection in the J-TEXT tokamak

A novel electron drift injection (EDI) system aiming to improve breakdown behavior has been designed and constructed on the Joint Texas EXperiment Tokamak Tokamak. Electrons emitted by the system undergo the E×B drift, ∇B drift and curvature drift in sequence in order to traverse the confining magnetic field. A local electrostatic well, generated by a concave-shaped plate biased more negative than the cathode, is introduced to interrupt the emitted electrons moving along the magnetic field line (in the parallel direction) in an attempt to bring an enhancement of the injection efficiency and depth. A series of experiments have demonstrated the feasibility of this method, and a penetration distance deeper than 9.5 cm is achieved. Notable breakdown improvements, including the reduction of breakdown delay and average loop voltage, are observed for discharges assisted by EDI. The lower limit of successfully ionized pressure is expanded.