A Review of Collaborative Studies between the NSTX/-U and MAST/-U Spherical Tokamaks
The National Spherical Torus Experiment (NSTX) at the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory in the United States, and the Mega Ampere Spherical Tokamak (MAST) at the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority in the United Kingdom, and their respective upgrades (NSTX-U and MAST-U) are two mega-amp class spherical tokamak fusion devices that have operated roughly over the past two decades. Both devices have made significant contributions to understanding spherical tokamak plasma physics, and fusion plasmas in general, and both have contributed data to multi-machine database studies. Several diagnostics have been physically moved from one machine to the other by diagnostic teams working on both devices. Collaboration has benefited both research teams in the areas of operational expertise, scenario development, and equilibrium reconstruction techniques. More focused comparative studies between the two devices have been pursued over the years in many areas as well, including stability calculations, disruption characterization, pedestal and edge localized mode stability, confinement and transport, energetic particles, and heating and current drive modelling. Together NSTX/-U and MAST/-U set the stage for the future of spherical tokamaks, which is entering the phase of design of demonstration power plant devices.