Fully non-inductive second harmonic electron cyclotron plasma ramp-up in the QUEST spherical tokamak
Year: 2017
Type: article
Abstract: Fully non-inductive second (2nd) harmonic electron cyclotron (EC) plasma current ramp-up was demonstrated with a newlly developed 28 GHz system in the QUEST spherical tokamak. A high plasma current of 54 kA was non-inductively ramped up and sustained stably for 0.9 s with a 270 kW 28 GHz wave. A higher plasma current of 66 kA was also non-inductively achieved with a slow ramp-up of the vertical field. We have achieved a significantly higher plasma current than those achieved previously with the 2nd harmonic EC waves. This fully non-inductive 2nd harmonic EC plasma ramp-up method might be useful for future burning plasma devices and fusion reactors, in particular for operations at half magnetic field with the same EC heating equipment.
Source: Nuclear Fusion
Authors: H. Idei, T. Kariya, T. Imai, K. Mishra, T. Onchi, O. Watanabe, H. Zushi, K. Hanada, J. Qian, A. Ejiri, M.M. Alam, K. Nakamura, A. Fujisawa, Y. Nagashima, M. Hasegawa, K. Matsuoka, A. Fukuyama, S. Kubo, T. Shimozuma, M. Yoshikawa, M. Sakamoto, S. Kawasaki, H. Nakashima, A. Higashijima, S. Ide, T. Maekawa, Y. Takase, K. Toi
Institutions: Research Institute for Applied Mechanics, Kyushu University, University of Tsukuba, Plasma Research Center, University of Tsukuba, Kyushu University, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Institute of Plasma Physics, The University of Tokyo, Kyoto University, National Institute for Fusion Science, National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology
Language: English
Subfield: Nuclear and High Energy Physics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W2732379974