ASTRA Simulation Results of RF Propagation in Plasma Medium

POSTER

Abstract

Transport barriers in toroidal plasmas play a major role in achieving the required confinement for reactor grade plasmas. They are formed by different mechanisms, but most of them are associated with a zonal flow which suppresses turbulence. A different way of producing a barrier has been recently proposed which uses the ponderomotive force of RF waves to reduce the fluctuations due to drift waves, but without inducing any plasma rotation. Using this mechanism, a transport coefficient is derived which is a function of RF power, and it is incorporated in transport simulations performed for the Brazilian tokamak TCABR, as a possible test bed for the theoretical model. The formation of a transport barrier is demonstrated at the position of the RF wave resonant absorption surface, having the typical pedestal-like temperature profile.

Authors

  • Stuart Barron

    Claflin University, College of William \& Mary, National Institute of Aerospace, Claflin University, Orangeburg, SC, College of William \& Mary, Claflin University, National Institute of Aerospace, College of William \& Mary, Claflin University \& National Institute of Aerospace

  • Stuart Barron

    Claflin University, College of William \& Mary, National Institute of Aerospace, Claflin University, Orangeburg, SC, College of William \& Mary, Claflin University, National Institute of Aerospace, College of William \& Mary, Claflin University \& National Institute of Aerospace

  • Stuart Barron

    Claflin University, College of William \& Mary, National Institute of Aerospace, Claflin University, Orangeburg, SC, College of William \& Mary, Claflin University, National Institute of Aerospace, College of William \& Mary, Claflin University \& National Institute of Aerospace

  • Stuart Barron

    Claflin University, College of William \& Mary, National Institute of Aerospace, Claflin University, Orangeburg, SC, College of William \& Mary, Claflin University, National Institute of Aerospace, College of William \& Mary, Claflin University \& National Institute of Aerospace