A new method for calibrating the hadron response of a segmented calorimeter is developed and successfully applied to beam test data. It is based on a principal component analysis of energy deposits in the calorimeter layers, exploiting longitudinal shower development information to improve the measured energy resolution. Corrections for invisible hadronic energy and energy lost in dead material in front of and between the calorimeters of the ATLAS experiment were calculated with simulated Geant4 Monte Carlo events and used to reconstruct the energy of pions impinging on the calorimeters during the 2004 Barrel Combined Beam Test at the CERN H8 area. For pion beams with energies between 20 GeV and 180 GeV, the particle energy is reconstructed within 3% and the energy resolution is improved by between 11% and 25% compared to the resolution at the electromagnetic scale.
The fluorescence of gaseous SF6 was investigated after excitation with 25-80eV synchrotron radiation photons. The total UV-Vis-near IR fluorescence yield was recorded and interpreted in terms of inner valence excitations/ionizations and double excitations in SF6. Dispersed fluorescence measurements in the 400-1000 nm spectral range reveal excited S, S+, F and F+ fragments as solely responsible for the emission. The fluorescence intensity of some of the observed atomic transitions was monitored as a function of the excitation energy. Single, double and triple excitations as well as direct ionizations and shake-ups are proposed as the triggering processes responsible for the creation of the emitting fragments.
Divertor surface temperatures are significantly affected by the presence of deposited surface layers. This phenomenon can be used to monitor deposited layer evolution on a shot-by-shot basis. It was found that during an experimental campaign where the B x del B direction was reversed that the outer target, normally an erosion zone, became a deposition zone.
In tokamaks, the role of turbulent transport of heavy impurities, relative to that of neoclassical transport, increases with increasing size of the plasma, as clarified by means of general scalings, which use the ITER standard scenario parameters as reference, and by actual results from a selection of discharges from ASDEX Upgrade and JET. This motivates the theoretical investigation of the properties of the turbulent convection of heavy impurities by nonlinear gyrokinetic simulations in the experimentally relevant conditions of comparable ion and electron heat fluxes. These conditions also correspond to an intermediate regime between dominant ion temperature gradient turbulence and trapped electron mode turbulence. At moderate plasma toroidal rotation, the turbulent convection of heavy impurities, computed with nonlinear gyrokinetic simulations, is found to be directed outward, in contrast to that obtained by quasi-linear calculations based on the most unstable linear mode, which is directed inward. In this mixed turbulence regime, with comparable electron and ion heat fluxes, the nonlinear results of the impurity transport can be explained by the coexistence of both ion temperature gradient and trapped electron modes in the turbulent state, both contributing to the turbulent convection and diffusion of the impurity. The impact of toroidal rotation on the turbulent convection is also clarified.
Neutronics experiments are performed at JET for validating in a real fusion environment the neutronics codes and nuclear data applied in ITER nuclear analyses. In particular, the neutron fluence through the penetrations of the JET torus hall is measured and compared with calculations to assess the capability of state-of-art numerical tools to correctly predict the radiation streaming in the ITER biological shield penetrations up to large distances from the neutron source, in large and complex geometries. Neutron streaming experiments started in 2012 when several hundreds of very sensitive thermo-luminescence detectors (TLDs), enriched to different levels in (LiF)-Li-6/(LiF)-Li-7, were used to measure the neutron and gamma dose separately. Lessons learnt from this first experiment led to significant improvements in the experimental arrangements to reduce the effects due to directional neutron source and self-shielding of TLDs. Here we report the results of measurements performed during the 2013-2014 JET campaign. Data from new positions, at further locations in the South West labyrinth and down to the Torus Hall basement through the air duct chimney, were obtained up to about a 40m distance from the plasma neutron source. In order to avoid interference between TLDs due to self-shielding effects, only TLDs containing natural Lithium and 99.97% Li-7 were used. All TLDs were located in the centre of large polyethylene (PE) moderators, with Li-nat and Li-7 crystals evenly arranged within two PE containers, one in horizontal and the other in vertical orientation, to investigate the shadowing effect in the directional neutron field. All TLDs were calibrated in the quantities of air kerma and neutron fluence. This improved experimental arrangement led to reduced statistical spread in the experimental data. The Monte Carlo N-Particle (MCNP) code was used to calculate the air kerma due to neutrons and the neutron fluence at detector positions, using a JET model validated up to the magnetic limbs. JET biological shield and penetrations, the PE moderators and TLDs were modelled in detail. Different tallying methods were used in the calculations, which are routinely used in ITER nuclear analyses: the mesh tally and the track length estimator with multiple steps calculations using the surface source write/read capability available in MCNP. In both cases, the calculated neutron fluence (C) was compared to the measured fluence (E) and hence C/E comparisons have been obtained and are discussed. These results provide a validation of neutronics numerical tools, codes and nuclear data, used for ITER design.
The power output of fusion devices is measured from their neutron yields which relate directly to the fusion yield. In this paper we describe the devices and methods that have been prepared to perform a new in situ 14 MeV neutron calibration at JET in view of the new DT campaign planned at JET in the next years. The target accuracy of this calibration is 10% as required for ITER, where a precise neutron yield measurement is important, e.g., for tritium accountancy. In this paper, the constraints and early decisions which defined the main calibration approach are discussed, e.g., the choice of 14 MeV neutron source and the deployment method. The physics preparations, source issues, safety and engineering aspects required to calibrate directly the JET neutron detectors are also discussed. The existing JET remote-handling system will be used to deploy the neutron source inside the JET vessel. For this purpose, compatible tooling and systems necessary to ensure safe and efficient deployment have been developed. The scientific programme of the preparatory phase is devoted to fully characterizing the selected 14 MeV neutron generator to be used as the calibrating source, obtain a better understanding of the limitations of the calibration, optimise the measurements and other provisions, and to provide corrections for perturbing factors (e.g., anisotropy of the neutron generator, neutron energy spectrum dependence on emission angle). Much of this work has been based on an extensive programme of Monte-Carlo calculations which provide support and guidance in developing the calibration strategy.
Within the framework of the EUROfusion programme, a work-package of technology projects (WPJET3) is being carried out in conjunction with the planned Deuterium-Tritium experiment on JET (DTE2) with the objective of maximising the scientific and technological return of DT operations at JET in support of ITER. This paper presents the progress since the start of the project in 2014 in the preparatory experiments, analyses and studies in the areas of neutronics, neutron induced activation and damage in ITER materials, nuclear safety, tritium retention, permeation and outgassing, and waste production in preparation of DTE2.
Future fusion reactors require a safe, steady state divertor operation. A possible solution for the power exhaust challenge is the detached divertor operation in scenarios with high radiated power fractions. The radiation can be increased by seeding impurities, such as N for dominant scrape-off-layer radiation, Ne or Ar for SOL and pedestal radiation and Kr for dominant core radiation. Recent experiments on two of the all-metal tokamaks, ASDEX Upgrade (AUG) and JET, demonstrate operation with high radiated power fractions and a fully-detached divertor by N, Ne or Kr seeding with a conventional divertor in a vertical target geometry. For both devices similar observations can be made. In the scenarios with the highest radiated power fraction, the dominant radiation originates from the confined region, in the case of N and Ne seeding concentrated in a region close to the X-point. Applying these seed impurities for highly radiative scenarios impacts local plasma parameters and alters the impurity transport in the pedestal region. Thus, plasma confinement and stability can be affected. A proper understanding of the effects by these impurities is required in order to predict the applicability of such scenarios for future devices.
Advanced scenario plasmas must often be run at low densities and high power, leading to hot edge temperatures and consequent power handling issues at plasma - surface interaction zones. Experiments at JET are addressing this issue by exploring the use of extrinsic impurity seeding and D-2 puffing to reduce heat fluxes. The experiments presented in this paper continue the line of advanced tokamak ( AT) scenario studies at high triangularity in JET by concentrating on the characterization of the edge pedestal and the ELM behaviour with deuterium and/or light impurity fuelling (neon, nitrogen). Both injection of extrinsic impurities and D2 puffing are shown to have a significant impact on the edge pedestal in typical JET AT conditions. The ELM energy loss, Delta W-ELM/W-dia, can be reduced to below 3% and the maximum ELM penetration depth can be limited to r/a > 0.7, thus enhancing the possibility for sustainable internal transport barriers at large plasma radius. These conditions can be achieved in two separate domains, either at a radiated power fraction (F-rad) of 30% or at a fraction of > 50%. At the lower Frad the ELMs are type I and a high pedestal pressure is maintained, but the occasional large ELM may still occur. At F-rad > 50% the pedestal pressure is degraded by 30-50%, but the ELMs are degraded to type III. The intermediate regime at F-rad similar to 40% is unattractive for ITB scenarios because large type I ELMs occur intermittently during the predominantly type III ELM phases (compound type I/III). F-rad = 30% can be obtained with D-2 fuelling alone, whereas neon or nitrogen seeding is needed to achieve F-rad > 50%. Only a limited number of tests have been carried out with nitrogen seeding, with the preliminary conclusion that the plasma edge behaviour is similar to that with neon seeding once the radiated fraction is matched.
We investigated the dependence of the backscatter component of the neutron spectrum on the emissivity profile. We did so for the JET neutron camera system, by calculating a profile-dependent backscatter matrix for each of the 19 camera channels using a MCNP model of the JET tokamak. We found that, when using a low minimum energy for the summation of the counts in the neutron pulse height spectrum, the backscatter contribution can depend significantly on the emissivity profile. The maximum variation in the backscatter level was 24% (8.0% when compared to the total emission). This effect needs to be considered when a correction for the backscatter contribution is applied to the measured profile. (C) 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.
In AC/DC converters, a peculiar periodic nonsmooth waveform arises, the so-called ripple. In this paper we propose a novel model that captures this nonsmoothness by means of a hybrid dynamical system performing state jumps at certain switching instants, and we illustrate its properties with reference to a three phase diode bridge rectifier. As the ripple corrupts an underlying desirable signal, we propound two observer schemes ensuring asymptotic estimation of the ripple, the first with and the second without knowledge of the switching instants. Our theoretical developments are well placed in the context of recent techniques for hybrid regulation and constitute a contribution especially for our second observer, where the switching instants are estimated. Once asymptotic estimation of the ripple is achieved, the ripple can be conveniently canceled from the desirable signal, and thanks to the inherent robustness properties of the proposed hybrid formulation, the two observer schemes require only that the desirable signal is slowly time varying compared to the ripple. Exploiting this fact, we illustrate the effectiveness of our second hybrid observation law on experimental data collected from the Joint European Torus tokamak.
The paper deals with radiation resistant sensors and their associated measuring instrumentation developed in the course of R and D activities carried out in the framework of an international collaboration. The first trial tests of three-dimensional (3D) probes with Hall sensors have been performed in European tokamaks TORE SUPRA (2004) and JET (2005). Later in 2009 six sets of 3D probes were installed in JET and now continue to operate. The statistical analysis performed in 2014 on the basis of the JET database have demonstrated stable long term operation of all 18 sensors of 3D probes. The results of measurements conducted at the neutron fluxes of nuclear reactors have demonstrated the operability of the sensors up to high neutron fluences of F > 10(18)n , cm(-2) that exceeds the maximum one for the locations of steady state sensors in ITER over its total lifetime.
The products of fusion reactions at JET are measured using different diagnostic techniques. One of the methods is based on measurements of gamma-rays, originating from reactions between fast ions and plasma impurities. During the forthcoming deuterium-tritium (DT) campaign a particular attention will be paid to 4.44 MeV gamma-rays emitted in the Be-9(alpha,n gamma)C-12 reaction. Gamma-ray detectors foreseen for measurements in DT campaigns have to be able to register spectra at high count rates, up to approximately 500 kHz. For the Gamma-ray Camera at JET a new setup will be based on scintillators with a short decay time, e.g., CeBr3, and a multi-pixel photon counter (MPPC). We present two methods of output signal shortening in modules based on MPPC. A short detector output signal is necessary in order to minimize the number of pile up events at high count rates. One method uses a passive RC circuit with a pole zero cancellation, whereas an active transimpedance amplifier is used in the other one. Due to the strong dependence of MPPC properties on temperature variation, a special device MTCD@NCBJ was designed and produced to stabilize the gain in MPPC-based scintillation detectors. We show that this device guarantees stable working conditions.
Physical and chemical assisted physical sputtering were characterised by the Be I and Be II line and BeD band emission in the observation chord measuring the sightline integrated emission in front of the inner beryllium limiter at the torus midplane. The 3D local transport and plasma-surface interaction Monte-Carlo modelling (ERO code [18]) is a key for the interpretation of the observations in the vicinity of the shaped solid Be limiter. The plasma parameter variation (density scan) in limiter regime has provided a useful material for the simulation benchmark. The improved background plasma parameters input, the new analytical expression for particle tracking in the sheath region and implementation of the BeD release into ERO has helped to clarify some deviations between modelling and experiments encountered in the previous studies [4,5]. Reproducing the observations provides additional confidence in our 'ERO-min' fit for the physical sputtering yields for the plasma-wetted areas based on simulated data.
For simulation of plasma-facing component erosion in fusion experiments, an analytical expression for the ion velocity just before the surface impact including the local electric field and an optional surface biasing effect is suggested. Energy and angular impact distributions and the resulting effective sputtering yields were produced for several experimental scenarios at JET ILW mostly involving PFCs exposed to an oblique magnetic field. The analytic solution has been applied as an improvement to earlier ERO modelling of localized, Be outer limiter, RF-enhanced erosion, modulated by toggling of a remote, however magnetically connected ICRH antenna. The effective W sputtering yields due to D and Be ion impact in Type-I and Type-III ELMs and inter-ELM conditions were also estimated using the analytical approach and benchmarked by spectroscopy. The intra-ELM W sputtering flux increases almost 10 times in comparison to the inter-ELM flux.
A new analytical approximation for the electric potential profile in the presence of an oblique magnetic field and the analytical solution for the particle motion just before the impact with a plasma-facing surface are presented. These approximations are in good agreement with fluid solutions and the corresponding PIC simulations. These expressions were applied to provide effective physical erosion yields for Be, which have in a second step been used in ERO code simulations of spectroscopy at Be limiters of the JET ITER-like wall. These new analytical expressions lead to an increase of the effective physical sputtering yields of Be by deuteron impact up to 30% in comparison with earlier pure numerical simulations. (
The L to H mode transition occurs at a critical power which depends on various parameters, such as the magnetic field, the density, etc. Experimental evidence on various tokamaks (JET, ASDEX-Upgrade, DIII-D, Alcator C-Mod) points towards the existence of a critical temperature characterizing the transition. This criterion for the L-H transition is local and is therefore easier to be compared to theoretical approaches. In order to shed light on the mechanisms of the transition, simple theoretical ideas are used to derive a temperature threshold (T-th). They are based on the stabilization of the underlying turbulence by a mean radial electric field shear. The nature of the turbulence varies as the collisionality decreases, from resistive ballooning modes to ion temperature gradient and trapped electron modes. The obtained parametric dependencies of the derived T-th are tested versus magnetic field, density, effective charge. Various robust experimental observations are reproduced, in particular T-th increases with magnetic field B and increases with density below the density roll-over observed on the power threshold.
With WEST (Tungsten Environment in Steady State Tokamak) (Bucalossi et al 2014 Fusion Eng. Des. 89 907-12), the Tore Supra facility and team expertise (Dumont et al 2014 Plasma Phys. Control. Fusion 56 075020) is used to pave the way towards ITER divertor procurement and operation. It consists in implementing a divertor configuration and installing ITER-like actively cooled tungsten monoblocks in the Tore Supra tokamak, taking full benefit of its unique long-pulse capability. WEST is a user facility platform, open to all ITER partners. This paper describes the physics basis of WEST: the estimated heat flux on the divertor target, the planned heating schemes, the expected behaviour of the L-H threshold and of the pedestal and the potential W sources. A series of operating scenarios has been modelled, showing that ITER-relevant heat fluxes on the divertor can be achieved in WEST long pulse H-mode plasmas.
A new Safety Case is required to permit tritium operations on JET during the forthcoming DTE2 campaign. The outputs, benefits and lessons learned associated with the production of this Safety Case are presented. The changes that have occurred to the Safety Case methodology since the last JET tritium Safety Case are reviewed. Consideration is given to the effects of modifications, particularly ITER related changes, made to the JET and the impact these have on the hazard assessments as well as normal operations. Several specialized assessments, including recent MELCOR modelling, have been undertaken to support the production of this Safety Case and the impact of these assessments is outlined. Discussion of the preliminary actions being taken to progress implementation of this Safety Case is provided, highlighting new methods to improve the dissemination of the key Safety Case results to the plant operators. Finally, the work required to complete this Safety Case, before the next tritium campaign, is summarized. (C) 2016 EURATOM. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
A two-dimensional array of saddle coils at M-c poloidal and N-c toroidal positions is used on the EXTRAP T2R reversed-field pinch (Brunsell P R et al 2001 Plasma Phys. Control. Fusion 43 1457) to study active control of resistive wall modes (RWMs). Spontaneous growth of several RWMs with poloidal mode number m = 1 and different toroidal mode number n is observed experimentally, in agreement with linear MHD modelling. The measured plasma response to a controlled coil field and the plasma response computed using the linear circular cylinder MHD model are in quantitive agreement. Feedback control introduces a linear coupling of modes with toroidal mode numbers n, n' that fulfil the condition vertical bar n - n'vertical bar = N-c. Pairs of coupled unstable RWMs are present in feedback experiments with an array of Mc x Nc = 4 x 16 coils. Using intelligent shell feedback, the coupled modes are generally not controlled even though the field is suppressed at the active coils. A better suppression of coupled modes may be achieved in the case of rotating modes by using the mode control feedback scheme with individually set complex gains. In feedback with a larger array of Mc x Nc = 4 x 32 coils, the coupling effect largely disappears, and with this array, the main internal RWMs n = -11, -10, +5, +6 are all simultaneously suppressed throughout the discharge (7-8 wall times). With feedback there is a two-fold extension of the pulse length, compared to discharges without feedback.
Profiles of the ratio of fusion power and the auxiliary heating power (MT are calculated for the TFTR and JET discharges with the highest neutron emission rates, and arc predicted for ITER. Core values above 1.3 for JET and 0.8 for TFTR are obtained, Values above 20 are predicted for ITER baseline plasmas.
Measurements of the propagation frequency of magnetic islands in JET are compared with diamagnetic drift frequencies, in view of a possible diagnostic application to the determination of markers for the safety factor profile. Statistical analysis is performed for a database including many well-diagnosed plasma discharges. Propagation in the plasma frame, i.e. with subtracted E x B Doppler shift, results to be in the ion diamagnetic drift direction, with values ranging from 0.8 (for islands at the q = 2 resonant surface) to 1.8 (for more internal islands) times the ion diamagnetic drift frequency. The diagnostic potential of the assumption of island propagation at exactly the ion diamagnetic frequency is scrutinised. Rational-q locations obtained on the basis of this assumption are compared with the ones measured by equilibrium reconstruction including motional Stark effect measurements as constraints. Systematic shifts and standard deviations are determined for islands with (poloidal, toroidal) periodicity indexes of (2, 1), (3, 2), (4, 3) and (5, 3) and possible diagnostic applications are indicated.
A strong effect of divertor configuration on the threshold power for the L-H transition (P-LH) was observed in recent JET experiments in the new ITER-like Wall (ILW) [1-3]. Following a series of EDGE2D-EIRENE code simulations with Be impurity and drifts a possible mechanism for the P-LH variation with the divertor geometry is proposed. Both experiment and code simulations show that in the configuration with lower neutral recycling near the outer strike point (OSP), electron temperature (T-e) peaks near the OSP prior to the L-H transition, while in the configuration with higher OSP recycling T-e peaks further out in the scrape-offlayer (SOL) and the plasma stays in the L-mode at the same input power. Code results show large positive radial electric field (E-r) in the near SOL under lower recycling conditions leading to a large E x B shear across the separatrix which may trigger earlier (at lower input power) edge turbulence suppression and lower P-LH. Suppressed T-e's at OSP in configurations with strike points on vertical targets (VT) were observed earlier and explained by a geometrical effect of neutral recycling near this particular position, whereas in configurations with strike points on horizontal targets (HT) the OSP appears to be more open for neutrals (see e.g. review paper [4]).
We focus on JET plasmas in which ELMs are triggered by pellets in the presence of ELMs which occur naturally. We perform direct time domain analysis of signals from fast radial field coils and toroidal full flux azimuthal loops. These toroidally integrating signals provide simultaneous high time resolution measurements of global plasma dynamics and its coupling to the control system. We examine the time dynamics of these signals in plasmas where pellet injection is used to trigger ELMs in the presence of naturally occurring ELMs. Pellets whose size and speed are intended to provide maximum local perturbation for ELM triggering are launched at pre-programmed times, without correlation to the occurrence times of intrinsic ELMs. Pellet rates were sufficiently low to prevent sustained changes of the underlying plasma conditions and natural ELM behaviour. We find a global signature of the build-up to natural ELMs in the temporal analytic phase of both the full flux loops and fast radial field coil signals. Before a natural ELM, the signal phases align to the same value on a similar to 2-5 ms timescale. This global build up to a natural ELM occurs whilst the amplitude of the full flux loop and fast radial field coil signals are at their background value: it precedes the response seen in these signals to the onset of ELMing. In contrast these signals do not clearly phase align before the ELM for ELMs which are the first to occur following pellet injection. This provides a direct test that can distinguish when an ELM is triggered by a pellet as opposed to occurring naturally. It further supports the idea [1-4] of a global build up phase that precedes natural ELMs; pellets can trigger ELMs even when the signal phase is at a value when a natural ELM is unlikely to occur.
The Magnet and Power Supplies system in JET includes a ferromagnetic core able to increase the transformer effect by improving the magnetic coupling with the plasma. The iron configuration is based on an inner cylindrical core and eight returning limbs; the ferromagnetic circuit is designed in such a way that the inner column saturates during standard operations [1]. The modelling of the magnetic circuit is a critical issue because of its impact on several applications, including equilibrium and reconstruction analysis required for control applications. The most used model in present applications is based on Equivalent Currents (ECs) placed on the iron boundary together with additional specific constraints, in a 2D axisymmetric frame. The (circular) ECs are chosen, by using the available magnetic measurements, to best represent the magnetic polarization effect [1]. Due to the axisymmetric assumption such approach is not well suited to deal with significant 3D effects, e.g. arising in operations with Error Field Correction Coils (EFCC). In this paper a new methodology is proposed, based on a set of 3D-shaped ECs and able to better model the actual 3D magnetization giving rise to a linear system to be solved. According to a well assessed approach [2], the 3D shape of ECs is represented by a set of elementary sources. The methodology has been successfully validated in a number of JET dry-run experiments where 3D effects are generated by EFCC currents. The new procedure has been designed to be easily coupled with equilibrium or reconstruction codes such as EFIT/V3FIT. The proposed model resulted to be very effective in representing 3D iron magnetization, especially if compared with typical 2D models.
In this work we present recent achievements to provide precise measurements of turbulence on JET H-mode plasmas using frequency sweeping reflectometry diagnostic. The plasma density fluctuations retrieved from swept reflected signals, first initiated with the Tore Supra reflectometry (Heuraux et al 2003 Rev. Sci. Instrum. 74 1501, Vermare et al 2006 Nucl. Fusion 46 S743, Gerbaud et al 2006 Rev. Sci. Instrum. 77 10E928), provides a radial profile of the density fluctuation level and its spectral structure. Using the complete set of the JET X-mode fast sweeping heterodyne reflectometers we have determined the temporal dynamic of the density fluctuation profile from the edge to the center during an H-mode discharge. At the L-H transition, the turbulence reduction seems to occur, at first, simultaneously from the edge to the center then deepens at the edge at rho similar to 0.95 and this deepening propagates toward the center with a steepening of the wavenumber spectra. During an edge localized mode (ELM) event, a substantial density fluctuations increase has been observed with a localized turbulent wave front propagating toward the center accompanying a particle transport. We also show that type-III ELMs sustain a steady and high level of plasma turbulence compare to type-I.
Accurate measurement of the nuclear environment within a test tritium breeding-blanket module of a fusion reactor is crucial to determine tritium production rates which are relevant to self-sufficiency of tritium fuel supply, tritium accountancy and also to the evaluation of localised power levels produced in blankets. This requires evaluation of the time-dependent spectral neutron flux within the test tritium breeding-blanket module under harsh radiation and temperature environments. The application of an activation foil-based spectrometer system to determine neutron flux density using a pneumatic transfer system in ITER has been studied, deployed and tested on the Joint European Torus (JET) machine in a recent deuterium - deuterium campaign for a selection of high purity activation foils. Deployment of the spectrometer system has provided important functional and practical testing of the detector measurement system, associated hardware and post processing techniques for the analysis of large data sets produced through the use of list mode data collection. The testing is invaluable for the optimisation of systems for future planned testing in tritium - tritium and deuterium - tritium conditions. Analysis of the time and energy spectra collected to date and the status of the development of methods for post processing are presented in this paper.
A motional Stark effect (MSE) diagnostic is now installed and operating routinely on the MAST spherical tokamak, with 35 radial channels, spatial resolution of similar to 2.5 cm, and time resolution of similar to 1 ms at angular noise levels of similar to 0.5 degrees. Conventional (albeit very narrow) interference filters isolate pi or sigma polarized emission. Avalanche photodiode detectors with digital phase-sensitive detection measure the harmonics of a pair of photoelastic modulators operating at 20 and 23 kHz, and thus the polarization state. The pi component is observed to be significantly stronger than sigma, in reasonably good agreement with atomic physics calculations, and as a result, almost all channels are now operated on pi. Trials with a wide filter that admits the entire Stark pattern (relying on the net polarization of the emission) have demonstrated performance almost as good as the conventional channels. MSE-constrained equilibrium reconstructions can readily be produced between pulses.
The three-dimensional VMEC equilibrium solver has been adapted to numerically investigate the approximate toroidal rotation model we have derived. We concentrate our applications on the simulation of JET snakes and MAST long-lived modes under free boundary conditions. Helical core solutions are triggered when <beta > exceeds a threshold value, typically 2.7% in JET-like plasmas. A large plasma current and edge bootstrap current can drive helical core formations at arbitrarily small <alpha > in which the ideal saturated internal kink coexists with an ideal saturated external kink structure of opposite phase. The centrifugal force linked with the rotation has the effect of displacing the plasma column away from the major axis, but does not alter significantly the magnitude of the edge corrugation of the plasma. Error field correction coil currents in JET-like configurations increase the outer midplane distortions by 2 cm. The edge bootstrap current enhances the edge modulation of the plasma driven by the core snake deformations in MAST.
The absorption of soft x-ray radiation induces neutral and ionic core hole states in molecules. The relaxation of such states typically leads to a multi-step process, at the end of which photons in the visible and UV range can also be emitted from fragments. In this paper, we present results on Balmer and Lyman emission that originates from excited H atoms produced at the K-edge of the water, ammonia and methane molecules. Dissociation pathways leading to fluorescence emission are discussed.
The performance of the 'hybrid' H-mode regime (long pulse operation with high neutron fluency) has been extensively investigated in JET during the 2005-2007 experimental campaign up to normalized pressure beta(N) = 3, toroidal magnetic field B-t = 1.7T, with type I ELMs plasma edge conditions. The optimized external current drive sources, self-generated non-inductive bootstrap current and plasma core stability properties provide a good prospect of achieving a high fusion gain at reduced plasma current for long durations in ITER. One of the remaining issues is the erosion of the divertor target plates associated with the type I ELM regime. A possible solution could be to operate with a plasma edge in the type III ELM regime (reduced transient and stationary heat loads) obtained with impurity seeding. An integrated hybrid type III ELM regime with a normalized pressure beta(N) = 2.6 (PNBI similar to 20-22 MW) and a thermal confinement factor of H-98* 98(y, 2) similar to 0.83 has been recently successfully developed on JET with nitrogen seeding. This scenario shows good plasma edge condition (compatible with the future ITER-like wall on JET) and moderate MHD activity. In this paper, we report on the experimental development of the scenario (with plasma current I-p = 1.7MA and magnetic field B-t = 1.7T) and the trade-off between heat load reduction at the target plates and global confinement due to nitrogen seeding and type III ELM working conditions.
A numerical and experimental study of the impurity concentration and radiation in the EXTRAP-T2R device is reported. The experimental setup consists of an 8-chord bolometer system providing the plasma radiated power and a vacuum-ultraviolet spectrometer providing information on the plasma impurity content. The plasma emissivity profile as measured by the bolometric system is peaked in the plasma centre. A one dimensional Onion Skin Collisional-Radiative model (OSCR) has been developed to compute the density and radiation distributions of the main impurities. The observed centrally peaked emissivity profile can be reproduced by OSCR simulations only if finite particle confinement time and charge-exchange processes between plasma impurities and neutral hydrogen are taken into account. The neutral hydrogen density profile is computed with a recycling code. Simulations show that recycling on metal first wall such as in EXTRAP-T2R (stainless steel vacuum vessel and molybdenum limiters) is compatible with a rather high neutral hydrogen density in the plasma centre. Assuming an impurity concentration of 10% for oxygen and 3% for carbon compared with the electron density, the OSCR calculation including lines and continuum emission reproduces about 60% of the total radiated power with a similarly centrally peaked emmissivity profile. The centrally peaked emissivity profile is due to low ionisation stages and strongly radiating species in the plasma core, mainly O4+ (Be-like) and C3+ (Li-like).
In thermonuclear plasmas, emission tomography uses integrated measurements along lines of sight (LOS) to determine the two-dimensional (2-D) spatial distribution of the volume emission intensity. Due to the availability of only a limited number views and to the coarse sampling of the LOS, the tomographic inversion is a limited data set problem. Several techniques have been developed for tomographic reconstruction of the 2-D gamma and neutron emissivity on JET. In specific experimental conditions the availability of LOSs is restricted to a single view. In this case an explicit reconstruction of the emissivity profile is no longer possible. However, machine learning classification methods can be used in order to derive the type of the distribution. In the present approach the classification is developed using the theory of belief functions which provide the support to fuse the results of independent clustering and supervised classification. The method allows to represent the uncertainty of the results provided by different independent techniques, to combine them and to manage possible conflicts.
The JET tangential gamma-ray spectrometer is undergoing an extensive upgrade in order to make it compatible with the forthcoming deuterium-tritium (DT) experiments. The paper presents the results of the design for the main components for the upgrade of the spectrometer beam-line: tandem collimators, gamma-ray shields, and neutron attenuators. The existing tandem collimators will be upgraded by installing two additional collimator modules. Two gamma-ray shields will define the gamma-ray field of-view at the detector end of the spectrometer line-of-sight. A set of three lithium hydride neutron attenuators will be used to control the level of the fast neutron flux on the gamma-ray detector. The design of the upgraded spectrometer beam-line has been supported by extensive radiation (neutron and photon) transport calculations using both large volume and point radiation sources.
The measurement of the safety factor q in tokamaks, which describes the winding of the helical magnetic field lines, is very important especially for the achievement of advanced scenarios. The motional Stark effect diagnostic can provide a direct measurement of the magnetic field orientation but the derivation of the q-profiles requires a simulation of the magnetic equilibrium taking into account inputs from several other diagnostics. This analysis can be affected by large errors. In order to validate the results, q-profiles are compared with the radii of MHD modes, which can be attributed to surfaces of known q.
Experiments on JET, with both the previous carbon wall (JET-C) and the new Be/W wall (JET-ILW), have demonstrated the efficacy of using a fast vertical plasma motion (known as vertical kicks in JET) for active ELM control. In this paper we report on a series of experiments that have been recently conducted in JET-ILW with the goal of further improving the physics understanding of the processes governing the triggering of ELMs via vertical kicks. This is a necessary step to confidently extrapolate this ELM control method to ITER. Experiments have shown that ELMs can be reliably triggered provided a minimum vertical plasma displacement and velocity is imposed. The magnitude of the minimum displacement depends on the plasma parameters, being smaller for higher pedestal temperatures and lower collisionalities, which is encouraging in view of ITER. Modelling and stability analysis suggest that a localized current density induced by the vertical plasma movement close to the separatrix plays a major role in the ELM triggering mechanism, which is consistent with the experimental observations. The implications of these results for the extrapolation of this ELM control scheme to ITER are discussed.
The amplitude of locked instabilities, likely magnetic islands, seen as precursors to disruptions has been studied using data from the JET, ASDEX Upgrade and COMPASS tokamaks. It was found that the thermal quench, that often initiates the disruption, is triggered when the amplitude has reached a distinct level. This information can be used to determine thresholds for simple disruption prediction schemes. The measured amplitude in part depends on the distance of the perturbation to the measurement coils. Hence the threshold for the measured amplitude depends on the mode location (i.e. the rational q-surface) and thus indirectly on parameters such as the edge safety factor, q(95), and the internal inductance, li(3), that determine the shape of the q-profile. These dependencies can be used to set the disruption thresholds more precisely. For the ITER baseline scenario, with typically q(95) = 3.2, li(3) = 0.9 and taking into account the position of the measurement coils on ITER, the maximum allowable measured locked mode amplitude normalized to engineering parameters was estimated to be a.B-ML(r
Prolonged operation of the Joint European Torus (JET) in a set-up involving all ITER partners will be beneficial for ITER. Experiments at JET with its ITER-like wall and using a D-T plasma mixture will help to mitigate risks in the ITER research plan. Training of the ITER operators, technicians and engineers at JET will safe valuable time when ITER comes into operation. Moreover, the way in which the future ITER experiments will be organized can already be experienced at JET, by imposing a similar organisational structure. This paper will present arguments in favour of an extension of JET and additionally briefly discuss a number of enhancements that will make experiments on JET even more relevant for ITER.
The JET ICRF ITER-like Antenna (ILA) has been operated at 33,42 and 47 MHz in 2008-2009 but stopped operation in 2009 due to the failure of one of the tuning capacitors inside the antenna. Tests on a spare capacitor showed that a micro-leak was caused by the cycle wear of a capacitor's internal bellows. The ILA was reinstated with a new operating scheme minimizing the full stroke requests of the capacitor. This contribution gives an overview of the works undertaken to reinstate the JET ILA up to the first results on plasma. The capacitors were replaced and high voltage tests of the capacitors were performed. An extensive calibration of all the measurements in the RF circuit was carried out. New simulation tools were created and control algorithms were implemented for the - toroidal and poloidal - phase control of the array as well as for the matching of the second stage. New protections are being implemented for the thermal and voltage protection of the capacitors. Low voltage matching tests were performed before the high power commissioning. Finally the first results on plasma are presented, showing that the new controls allow extending the range of the operation to lower (29 MHz) and higher (51 MHz) frequencies than previously achieved.
A newly established scaling of the ELM energy fluence using dedicated data sets from JET operation with CFC & ILW plasma facing components (PFCs), ASDEX Upgrade (AUG) operation with both CFC and full-W PFCs and MAST with CFC walls has been generated. The scaling reveals an approximately linear dependence of the peak ELM energy with the pedestal top electron pressure and with the minor radius; a square root dependence is seen on the relative ELM loss energy. The result of this scaling gives a range in parallel peak ELM energy fluence of 10-30 MJm(-2) for ITER Q = 10 operation and 2.5-7.5 MJm(-2) for intermediate ITER operation at 7.5 MA and 2.65 T. These latter numbers are calculated using a numerical regression (epsilon(II) = 0.28 MJ/m(2) n(e)(0.75) T-e(1) Delta E-ELM(0.5) R-1(geo)). A simple model for ELM induced thermal load is introduced, resulting in an expression for the ELM energy fluence of epsilon(II) congruent to 6 pi p(e) R-geo q(edge). The relative ELM loss energy in the data is between 2-10% and the ELM energy fluence varies within a range of 10(0.5) similar to 3 consistently for each individual device. The so far analysed power load database for ELM mitigation experiments from JET-EFCC and Kicks, MAST-RMP and AUG-RMP operation are found to be consistent with both the scaling and the introduced model, ie not showing a further reduction with respect to their pedestal pressure. The extrapolated ELM energy fluencies are compared to material limits in ITER and found to be of concern.
Reliable coupling of the lower hybrid current drive (LHCD) to H-mode plasmas in JET is made feasible through a dedicated gas injection system, located at the outer wall and magnetically connected to the antenna (Pericoli Ridolfini et al 2004 Plasma Phys. Control. Fusion 46 349, Ekedahl et al 2005 Nucl. Fusion 45 351, Ekedahl et al 2009 Plasma Phys. Control. Fusion 51 044001). An experiment was carried out in JET in order to investigate whether a gas injection from the top of the torus, as is foreseen for the main gas injection in ITER, could also provide good coupling of the LH waves if magnetically connected to the antenna. The results show that a top gas injection was not efficient for providing a reliable LHCD power injection, in spite of being magnetically connected and in spite of using almost twice the amount of gas flow compared with the dedicated outer mid-plane gas puffing system. A dedicated gas injection system, set in the outer wall and magnetically connected to the LHCD antenna, is therefore recommended in order to provide the reliable coupling conditions for an LHCD antenna in ITER.
Good coupling of lower hybrid (LH) waves has been demonstrated in different H-mode scenarios in JET, at high triangularity (delta similar to 0.4) and at large distance between the last closed flux surface and the LH launcher ( up to 15 cm). Local gas injection of D-2 in the region magnetically connected to the LH launcher is used for increasing the local density in the scrape-off layer ( SOL). Reciprocating Langmuir probe measurements magnetically connected to the LH launcher indicate that the electron density profile flattens in the far SOL during gas injection and LH power application. Some degradation in normalized H-mode confinement, as given by the H98(gamma,2)-factor, could be observed at high gas injection rates in these scenarios, but this was rather due to total gas injection and not specifically to the local gas puffing used for LH coupling. Furthermore, experiments carried out in L-mode plasmas in order to evaluate the effect on the LH current drive efficiency, when using local gas injection to improve the coupling, indicate only a small degradation (Delta I-LH/I-LH similar to 15%). This effect is largely compensated by the improvement in coupling and thus increase in coupled power when using gas puffing.
The O, N, and C 1s core level photoemission spectra of the nucleobases cytosine and uracil have been measured in the vapor phase, and the results have been interpreted via theoretical calculations. Our calculations accurately predict the relative binding energies of the core level features observed in the experimental photoemission results and provide a full assignment. In agreement with previous work, a single tautomer of uracil is populated at 405 K, giving rise to relatively simple spectra. At 450 K, three tautomers of cytosine, one of which may consist of two rotamers, are identified, and their populations are determined. This resolves inconsistencies between recent laser studies of this molecule in which the rare imino-oxo tautomer was not observed and older microwave spectra in which it was reported.
The assessment of the Shutdown Dose Rate (SDR) due to neutron activation is a major safety issue for fusion devices and in the last decade several benchmark experiments have been conducted at JET during Deuterium-Deuterium experiments for the validation of the numerical tools used in ITER nuclear analyses. The future Deuterium-Tritium campaign at JET (DTE2) will provide a unique opportunity to validate the codes under ITER-relevant conditions through the comparison between numerical predictions and measured quantities (C/E). For this purpose, a novel SDR experiment, described in the present work, is in preparation in the frame of the WPJET3-NEXP subproject within EUROfusion Consortium. The experimental setup has been accurately designed to reduce measurement uncertainties; spherical air-vented ionization chambers (ICs) will be used for on-line ex-vessel decay gamma dose measurements during JET shutdown following DT operations and activation foils have been selected for measuring the neutron fluence near ICs during operations. Active dosimeters (based on ICs) have been calibrated over a broad energy range (from about 30 keV to 1.3 MeV) with X and gamma reference beam qualities. Neutron irradiation tests confirmed the capability of active dosimeters of performing on-line decay gamma dose rate measurements, to follow gamma dose decay at the end of neutron irradiation as well as insignificant activation of the ICs.