Integration of full divertor detachment with improved core confinement for tokamak fusion plasmas.

ABSTRACT: Divertor detachment offers a promising solution to the challenge of plasma-wall interactions for steady-state operation of fusion reactors. Here, we demonstrate the excellent compatibility of actively controlled full divertor detachment with a high-performance (?_N ~ 3, H₉₈ ~ 1.5) core plasma, using high-?_p (poloidal beta, ?_p?>?2) scenario characterized by a sustained core internal transport barrier (ITB) and a modest edge transport barrier (ETB) in DIII-D tokamak. The high-?_p high-confinement scenario facilitates divertor detachment which, in turn, promotes the development of an even stronger ITB at large radius with a weaker ETB. This self-organized synergy between ITB and ETB, leads to a net gain in energy confinement, in contrast to the net confinement loss caused by divertor detachment in standard H-modes. These results show the potential of integrating excellent core plasma performance with an efficient divertor solution, an essential step towards steady-state operation of reactor-grade plasmas.

SUBMITTER: Wang L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7921092 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature