Poloidal Structure of Disruption Halo Currents in Alcator C-Mod

ORAL

Abstract

A new set of optimized Langmuir probes embedded in the outboard divertor of Alcator C-Mod has been run in a mode that effectively measures halo currents during disruptions. These data provide unprecedented poloidal spatial and temporal resolution of the halo current flowing into and out of the divertor surface. Reconstructions of the evolving plasma boundary during the disruption current quench gives us information on the point(s) of contact on the divertor surface as a function of time, and this has been compared to details of the halo current distribution, including the spatial profiles of halo current polarity and amplitude. In addition, the safety factor, qlim(t), of the plasma surface is also calculated from the boundary reconstructions, and its correlation with the halo current amplitude will be shown.

*US DoE award DE-FC02-99ER54512

Authors

  • R. Granetz

    • MIT Plasma Science and Fusion Center
    • Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    • MIT
  • Alex Tinguely

    • MIT Plasma Science and Fusion Center
  • Alexandra Berg

    • Research Science Institute
  • A.Q. Kuang

    • MIT Plasma Science and Fusion Center
    • MIT PSFC
  • D. Brunner

    • MIT PSFC
    • MIT Plasma Science and Fusion Center
    • Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  • Brian LaBombard

    • MIT Plasma Science and Fusion Center