학술논문

Study and optimization of lower hybrid wave coupling in the experimental advanced superconducting (EAST) tokamak.
Document Type
Article
Source
Plasma Physics & Controlled Fusion. 2013, Vol. 55 Issue 6, p1-15. 15p.
Subject
*MATHEMATICAL optimization
*HYBRID systems
*SUPERCONDUCTORS
*TOKAMAKS
*CYCLOTRON resonance
*DENSITY
Language
ISSN
0741-3335
Abstract
The results presented in this paper are an extension of our recent (Kong et al 2012 Plasma Phys. Control. Fusion 54 105003) studies on lower hybrid wave (LHW) coupling. By optimizing the shape of the LH grill, the misalignment between the poloidal limiter (PL) and the LH grill is nearly eliminated and the coupling of LHW is improved, especially on the top row, although some discrepancies are still present in the case with low edge density. Density modifications both by LHW and ion cyclotron range of frequency (ICRF) power are studied in EAST. Experimental results show that the edge density modification in front of the LH grill during LHW power depends mainly on the competition between ponderomotive force (PMF) and the ionization of neutral gas, provided by gas puffing and edge recycling. However, the local edge density during ICRF power can be reduced rapidly. Furthermore, such a modification is more obvious with higher ICRF power and the relevant mechanism of density modification by ICRF power can be related to RF sheaths. In addition, another analogous effect of RF sheaths on the coupling of LHW is also investigated, i.e. the density convection induced by Er × B drift. The changes in LHW coupling associated with different ICRF antennas are discussed and it is shown that in some cases the coupling on the lower rows of the LH grill is improved possibly due to magnetic connection between ICRF antennas and the LH grill. The local coupling of LHW can be improved by gas puffing from gas introduction modules (GIM) on both sides of the launcher, but it is difficult to judge which one is more beneficial due to errors in measurements. Experimental results with gas (D2) injection during ICRF power clearly show that the coupling of LHW on the upper rows will be first improved by gas injection on the electron side and the coupling on the lower rows will be effectively improved by gas injection on the ion side. The results are consistent with the mapping of field lines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]