Integration of full divertor detachment with improved core confinement for tokamak fusion plasmas

L. Wang; H. Q. Wang; S. Ding; A. M. Garofalo; X. Z. Gong; D. Eldon; H. Y. Guo; A. W. Leonard; A. W. Hyatt; J. P. Qian; D. B. Weisberg; J. McClenaghan; M. E. Fenstermacher; C. J. Lasnier; J. G. Watkins; M. W. Shafer; G. S. Xu; J. Huang; Q. L. Ren; R. J. Buttery; D. A. Humphreys; D. M. Thomas; B. Zhang; J. B. Liu

doi:10.1038/s41467-021-21645-y

Integration of full divertor detachment with improved core confinement for tokamak fusion plasmas

L. Wang, H. Q. Wang, S. Ding, A. M. Garofalo, X. Z. Gong, D. Eldon, H. Y. Guo, A. W. Leonard, A. W. Hyatt, J. P. Qian, D. B. Weisberg, J. McClenaghan, M. E. Fenstermacher, C. J. Lasnier, J. G. Watkins, M. W. Shafer, G. S. Xu, J. Huang, Q. L. Ren, R. J. ButteryD. A. Humphreys, D. M. Thomas, B. Zhang, J. B. Liu

Advanced Tokamak Physics

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

71 Scopus citations

Abstract

Divertor detachment offers a promising solution to the challenge of plasma-wall interactions for steady-state operation of fusion reactors. Here, we demonstrate the excellent compatibility of actively controlled full divertor detachment with a high-performance (β_N ~ 3, H₉₈ ~ 1.5) core plasma, using high-β_p (poloidal beta, β_p > 2) scenario characterized by a sustained core internal transport barrier (ITB) and a modest edge transport barrier (ETB) in DIII-D tokamak. The high-β_p high-confinement scenario facilitates divertor detachment which, in turn, promotes the development of an even stronger ITB at large radius with a weaker ETB. This self-organized synergy between ITB and ETB, leads to a net gain in energy confinement, in contrast to the net confinement loss caused by divertor detachment in standard H-modes. These results show the potential of integrating excellent core plasma performance with an efficient divertor solution, an essential step towards steady-state operation of reactor-grade plasmas.

Original language	English
Article number	1365
Journal	Nature Communications
Volume	12
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-21645-y
State	Published - Dec 1 2021

Funding

The authors would like to acknowledge the support and assistance from the rest of the DIII-D team, the BPMIC group and the joint DIII-D/EAST task force group. We appreciate the valuable discussion with D.N. Hill, G.M. Staebler, T.W. Petrie, P.B. Snyder, B. Grierson, E.T. Hinson, A.E. Jaervinen, T.H. Osborne, J. Ren, A.G. Mclean, C. Samuell, Z. Yan, G. Mckee, T. Rhodes, R. Perillo, S. Abe, R. Hong, and X. Jian. This work is supported by the U.S. Department of Energy under DE-FC02-04ER54698, DE-AC04-94AL85000, DE-NA0003525, and DE-AC52-07NA27344, National Natural Science Foundation of China under 11922513, and 11775264 and National Magnetic Confinement Fusion Science Program of China under 2017YFE0301300 and 2017YFE0300404. Disclaimer: This report was prepared as an account of work sponsored by an agency of the United States Government. Neither the United States Government nor any agency thereof, nor any of their employees, makes any warranty, express or implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights. Reference herein to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise, does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States Government or any agency thereof. The views and opinions of authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United States Government or any agency thereof.

Funders	Funder number
U.S. Department of Energy	DE-NA0003525, DE-AC04-94AL85000, DE-FC02-04ER54698, DE-AC52-07NA27344
National Natural Science Foundation of China	11922513, 11775264
National Magnetic Confinement Fusion Program of China	2017YFE0300404, 2017YFE0301300

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Wang, L., Wang, H. Q., Ding, S., Garofalo, A. M., Gong, X. Z., Eldon, D., Guo, H. Y., Leonard, A. W., Hyatt, A. W., Qian, J. P., Weisberg, D. B., McClenaghan, J., Fenstermacher, M. E., Lasnier, C. J., Watkins, J. G., Shafer, M. W., Xu, G. S., Huang, J., Ren, Q. L., ... Liu, J. B. (2021). Integration of full divertor detachment with improved core confinement for tokamak fusion plasmas. Nature Communications, 12(1), Article 1365. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-21645-y

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title = "Integration of full divertor detachment with improved core confinement for tokamak fusion plasmas",

abstract = "Divertor detachment offers a promising solution to the challenge of plasma-wall interactions for steady-state operation of fusion reactors. Here, we demonstrate the excellent compatibility of actively controlled full divertor detachment with a high-performance (βN ~ 3, H98 ~ 1.5) core plasma, using high-βp (poloidal beta, βp > 2) scenario characterized by a sustained core internal transport barrier (ITB) and a modest edge transport barrier (ETB) in DIII-D tokamak. The high-βp high-confinement scenario facilitates divertor detachment which, in turn, promotes the development of an even stronger ITB at large radius with a weaker ETB. This self-organized synergy between ITB and ETB, leads to a net gain in energy confinement, in contrast to the net confinement loss caused by divertor detachment in standard H-modes. These results show the potential of integrating excellent core plasma performance with an efficient divertor solution, an essential step towards steady-state operation of reactor-grade plasmas.",

author = "L. Wang and Wang, {H. Q.} and S. Ding and Garofalo, {A. M.} and Gong, {X. Z.} and D. Eldon and Guo, {H. Y.} and Leonard, {A. W.} and Hyatt, {A. W.} and Qian, {J. P.} and Weisberg, {D. B.} and J. McClenaghan and Fenstermacher, {M. E.} and Lasnier, {C. J.} and Watkins, {J. G.} and Shafer, {M. W.} and Xu, {G. S.} and J. Huang and Ren, {Q. L.} and Buttery, {R. J.} and Humphreys, {D. A.} and Thomas, {D. M.} and B. Zhang and Liu, {J. B.}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2021, The Author(s).",

year = "2021",

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doi = "10.1038/s41467-021-21645-y",

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Wang, L, Wang, HQ, Ding, S, Garofalo, AM, Gong, XZ, Eldon, D, Guo, HY, Leonard, AW, Hyatt, AW, Qian, JP, Weisberg, DB, McClenaghan, J, Fenstermacher, ME, Lasnier, CJ, Watkins, JG, Shafer, MW, Xu, GS, Huang, J, Ren, QL, Buttery, RJ, Humphreys, DA, Thomas, DM, Zhang, B & Liu, JB 2021, 'Integration of full divertor detachment with improved core confinement for tokamak fusion plasmas', Nature Communications, vol. 12, no. 1, 1365. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-21645-y

TY - JOUR

T1 - Integration of full divertor detachment with improved core confinement for tokamak fusion plasmas

AU - Wang, L.

AU - Wang, H. Q.

AU - Ding, S.

AU - Garofalo, A. M.

AU - Gong, X. Z.

AU - Eldon, D.

AU - Guo, H. Y.

AU - Leonard, A. W.

AU - Hyatt, A. W.

AU - Qian, J. P.

AU - Weisberg, D. B.

AU - McClenaghan, J.

AU - Fenstermacher, M. E.

AU - Lasnier, C. J.

AU - Watkins, J. G.

AU - Shafer, M. W.

AU - Xu, G. S.

AU - Huang, J.

AU - Ren, Q. L.

AU - Buttery, R. J.

AU - Humphreys, D. A.

AU - Thomas, D. M.

AU - Zhang, B.

AU - Liu, J. B.

PY - 2021/12/1

Y1 - 2021/12/1

N2 - Divertor detachment offers a promising solution to the challenge of plasma-wall interactions for steady-state operation of fusion reactors. Here, we demonstrate the excellent compatibility of actively controlled full divertor detachment with a high-performance (βN ~ 3, H98 ~ 1.5) core plasma, using high-βp (poloidal beta, βp > 2) scenario characterized by a sustained core internal transport barrier (ITB) and a modest edge transport barrier (ETB) in DIII-D tokamak. The high-βp high-confinement scenario facilitates divertor detachment which, in turn, promotes the development of an even stronger ITB at large radius with a weaker ETB. This self-organized synergy between ITB and ETB, leads to a net gain in energy confinement, in contrast to the net confinement loss caused by divertor detachment in standard H-modes. These results show the potential of integrating excellent core plasma performance with an efficient divertor solution, an essential step towards steady-state operation of reactor-grade plasmas.

AB - Divertor detachment offers a promising solution to the challenge of plasma-wall interactions for steady-state operation of fusion reactors. Here, we demonstrate the excellent compatibility of actively controlled full divertor detachment with a high-performance (βN ~ 3, H98 ~ 1.5) core plasma, using high-βp (poloidal beta, βp > 2) scenario characterized by a sustained core internal transport barrier (ITB) and a modest edge transport barrier (ETB) in DIII-D tokamak. The high-βp high-confinement scenario facilitates divertor detachment which, in turn, promotes the development of an even stronger ITB at large radius with a weaker ETB. This self-organized synergy between ITB and ETB, leads to a net gain in energy confinement, in contrast to the net confinement loss caused by divertor detachment in standard H-modes. These results show the potential of integrating excellent core plasma performance with an efficient divertor solution, an essential step towards steady-state operation of reactor-grade plasmas.

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85101813058&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1038/s41467-021-21645-y

DO - 10.1038/s41467-021-21645-y

M3 - Article

C2 - 33649306

AN - SCOPUS:85101813058

SN - 2041-1723

VL - 12

JO - Nature Communications

JF - Nature Communications

IS - 1

M1 - 1365

ER -

Integration of full divertor detachment with improved core confinement for tokamak fusion plasmas

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