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

Author

Listed:
  • L. Wang

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • H. Q. Wang

    (General Atomics)

  • S. Ding

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences
    Oak Ridge Associated Universities)

  • A. M. Garofalo

    (General Atomics)

  • X. Z. Gong

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • D. Eldon

    (General Atomics)

  • H. Y. Guo

    (General Atomics)

  • A. W. Leonard

    (General Atomics)

  • A. W. Hyatt

    (General Atomics)

  • J. P. Qian

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • D. B. Weisberg

    (General Atomics)

  • J. McClenaghan

    (General Atomics)

  • M. E. Fenstermacher

    (Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory)

  • C. J. Lasnier

    (Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory)

  • J. G. Watkins

    (Sandia National Laboratories)

  • M. W. Shafer

    (Oak Ridge National Laboratory)

  • G. S. Xu

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • J. Huang

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Q. L. Ren

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • R. J. Buttery

    (General Atomics)

  • D. A. Humphreys

    (General Atomics)

  • D. M. Thomas

    (General Atomics)

  • B. Zhang

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • J. B. Liu

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences)

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.

Suggested Citation

  • 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 &, 2021. "Integration of full divertor detachment with improved core confinement for tokamak fusion plasmas," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-9, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:12:y:2021:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-021-21645-y
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-21645-y
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