The role of edge plasma parameters in H-mode density limit on the JET-ILW

The role of edge plasma parameters in H-mode density limit on the JET-ILW

The role of edge plasma parameters in H-mode density limit on the JET-ILW 150 150 UKAEA Opendata
UKAEA-CCFE-PR(21)07

The role of edge plasma parameters in H-mode density limit on the JET-ILW

A study of a dataset of JET plasma with the Be/W ITER-like wall (JET-ILW) shows that reaching the edge MHD ballooning limit leads to confinement degradation. However, unlike JET plasma with a carbon wall (JET-C), the JET-ILW plasma stays in a marginal dithering phase for a relatively long period, associated with a higher a ( 20%) H-mode density limit (HDL) than JET-C equivalents. This suggests that ITER could be operated in H-mode with higher density, but likely with a dithering phase plasma with lower confinement. A new, reliable estimator for JET has been derived by combining HRTS measures of pedestal gradient and edge-SOL decay lengths. JET radial ETB wells are observed in the range -15 to -60 kV/m in high performance H-modes, consistent with previous CXRS results in ASDEX Upgrade. The results imply that a higher positive E×B shear in the near SOL plays a role in sustaining a marginal phase in JET-ILW which leads to a higher HDL than that in JET-C. Results of JET-ILW dataset show agreement with the Goldston finite collisionality HD model for SOL broadening at high collisionality. A hypothesis for the dithering H-mode phase is proposed: as increases, increases, SOL broadens, shear decreases, triggers L-mode; drops, decrease, SOL becomes narrower, shear increases, triggering H-mode; resulting in a cycle of H-L-H- oscillations. For burning plasma devices, such as ITER, operating just below the MHD limit for the dithering phase could be a promising regime for maximising core density, and fusion performance while minimising plasma-material interaction. The oscillatory signal during the dithering phase could be used as a precursor of undesirable plasma performance for control purposes.

Collection:
Journals
Journal:
Nuclear Fusion
Publisher:
IOP (Institute of Physics)
Published date:
28/04/2021