Improved understanding of physics processes in pedestal structure, leading to improved predictive capability for ITER
Year: 2013
Type: article
Abstract: Joint experiment/theory/modelling research has led to increased confidence in predictions of the pedestal height in ITER. This work was performed as part of a US Department of Energy Joint Research Target in FY11 to identify physics processes that control the H-mode pedestal structure. The study included experiments on C-Mod, DIII-D and NSTX as well as interpretation of experimental data with theory-based modelling codes. This work provides increased confidence in the ability of models for peeling–ballooning stability, bootstrap current, pedestal width and pedestal height scaling to make correct predictions, with some areas needing further work also being identified. A model for pedestal pressure height has made good predictions in existing machines for a range in pressure of a factor of 20. This provides a solid basis for predicting the maximum pedestal pressure height in ITER, which is found to be an extrapolation of a factor of 3 beyond the existing data set. Models were studied for a number of processes that are proposed to play a role in the pedestal n e and T e profiles. These processes include neoclassical transport, paleoclassical transport, electron temperature gradient turbulence and neutral fuelling. All of these processes may be important, with the importance being dependent on the plasma regime. Studies with several electromagnetic gyrokinetic codes show that the gradients in and on top of the pedestal can drive a number of instabilities.
Source: Nuclear Fusion
Authors: R.J. Groebner, C.S. Chang, J.W. Hughes, R. Maingi, P.B. Snyder, X.Q. Xu, J.A. Boedo, D.P. Boyle, J.D. Callen, J.M. Canik, I. Cziegler, E.M. Davis, A. Diallo, P.H. Diamond, J.D. Elder, D.P. Eldon, D.R. Ernst, D.P. Fulton, M. Landreman, A.W. Leonard, J.D. Lore, T.H. Osborne, A.Y. Pankin, S.E. Parker, T.L. Rhodes, S.P. Smith, A.C. Sontag, W.M. Stacey, J. Walk, W. Wan, E.H.-J. Wang, J.G. Watkins, A.E. White, D.G. Whyte, Z. Yan, E.A. Belli, B.D. Bray, J. Candy, R.M. Churchill, T.M. Deterly, E.J. Doyle, M.E. Fenstermacher, N.M. Ferraro, A.E. Hubbard, I. Joseph, J.E. Kinsey, B. LaBombard, C.J. Lasnier, Z. Lin, B.L. Lipschultz, C. Liu, Y. Ma, G.R. McKee, D.M. Ponce, J.C. Rost, L. Schmitz, G.M. Staebler, L.E. Sugiyama, J.L. Terry, M.V. Umansky, R.E. Waltz, S.M. Wolfe, L. Zeng, S.J. Zweben
Institutions: General Atomics (United States), Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, University of California San Diego, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, University of Toronto, University of California, Irvine, Tech-X Corporation (United States), University of Colorado Boulder, University of California, Los Angeles, Georgia Institute of Technology, Sandia National Laboratories
Language: English
Subfield: Nuclear and High Energy Physics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
Awards: G14554683, G1645119126, G2145270357, G222768804, G2715909221, G2988778103, APPLICATION OF OPTICAL FLUCTU-ATION DIAGNOSTICS TO TRANSPORTSTUDIES IN HIGH TEMPERATURE TOKAWOK PLASMAS, DIII-D EDGE PHYSICS AND DISRUPTIONS, FUSION DEVELOPMENT & TECHNOLOGY, BEHAVIOR AND DYNAMICS OF MULTIFIELD TURBULENCE IN TOKAMAK PLASMAS, G4744367074, G4896746546, THEORETICAL STUDIES OF ALPHA AND ENERGETIC - PARTICLE PHYSICS IN FUSION PLASMAS, CENTER FOR GYROKINETIC PARTICLE SIMULATIONS OF TURBULENT TRANSPORT IN BURNING PLASMAS, G663282964, FUSION THEORY IN ADVANCED PHYSICS AND TECHNOLOGY, G8456466421, THE DIII-D FUSION RESEARCH PROGRAM AND ADVANCED FUSION TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, G8906985441, INTEGRATED SYSTEM FOR MEASUREMENT OF MULTI-SCALE TURBULENCE, ZONAL FLOWS AND PARTICLE FLUX, G969889393
OpenAlex ID: W2136920179