A megawatt-level 28 GHz heating system for the National Spherical Torus Experiment Upgrade

The National Spherical Torus Experiment Upgrade (NSTX-U) will operate at axial toroidal fields of ≤ 1 T and plasma currents, Ip ≤ 2 MA. The development of non-inductive (NI) plasmas is a major long-term research goal for NSTX-U. Time dependent numerical simulations of 28 GHz electron cyclotron (EC)...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:EPJ Web of conferences 2015-01, Vol.87, p.2013-2-02013-4
Main Authors: Taylor, G., Ellis, R.A., Fredd, E., Gerhardt, S. P., Greenough, N., Harvey, R. W., Hosea, J. C., Parker, R., Poli, F., Raman, R., Shiraiwa, S., Smirnov, A. P., Terry, D., Wallace, G., Wukitch, S.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Beam injection
Bernstein waves
Computer simulation
Cyclotrons
Decay rate
Density
Electron beam welding
Electron energy
Electron temperature
Heating
Heating systems
Helicity
Neutral beams
Plasma
Plasma currents
Plasmas
Time dependence
Toruses
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Summary:The National Spherical Torus Experiment Upgrade (NSTX-U) will operate at axial toroidal fields of ≤ 1 T and plasma currents, Ip ≤ 2 MA. The development of non-inductive (NI) plasmas is a major long-term research goal for NSTX-U. Time dependent numerical simulations of 28 GHz electron cyclotron (EC) heating of low density NI start-up plasmas generated by Coaxial Helicity Injection (CHI) in NSTX-U predict a significant and rapid increase of the central electron temperature (Te(0)) before the plasma becomes overdense. The increased Te(0) will significantly reduce the Ip decay rate of CHI plasmas, allowing the coupling of fast wave heating and neutral beam injection. A megawatt-level, 28 GHz electron heating system is planned for heating NI start-up plasmas in NSTX-U. In addition to EC heating of CHI start-up discharges, this system will be used for electron Bernstein wave (EBW) plasma start-up, and eventually for EBW heating and current drive during the Ip flattop.
ISSN:2100-014X
2101-6275
2100-014X
DOI:10.1051/epjconf/20158702013