Studying Divertor Relevant Plasmas in Linear Devices PDF Download

Author: Karol Jesko
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Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
Predictions for the operation of tokamak divertors typically rely on edge transport codes, consisting of a fluid plasma code in combination with a Monte Carlo code for neutral species. The linear devices Magnum-PSI and Pilot-PSI at DIFFER, operating with a cascaded arc plasma source that produces plasmas comparable to those expected in the ITER divertor (Te ∼ 1 eV, n_e ∼ 1020 m−3). In this thesis, plasma discharges have been studied both experimentally and by modelling using the Soledge2D-Eirene code in order to a) investigate which phenomena need to be included in the modeling to reproduce experimental trends and b) provide new insights to the interpretation of experiments. Experimentally, the effect of neutral pressure Pn was investigated using Thomson scattering, a Langmuir probe, visible spectroscopy and calorimetry. We have shown that a plasma beam can be effectively terminated by a blanket of neutral gas. Next, from comparisons of experiments and simulations, we have found that it is critical to include elastic collisions between the plasma and molecules if experiments are to be reproduced. Furthermore, the near-target Te is systematically overestimated by the code, underestimating the recombination rate thereby. Lastly, we have experimentally shown the importance of the inclusion of surface recombination to the surface energy flux in low temperature plasmas, an effect that is generally known but difficult to measure in fusion devices. The work presented in this thesis contributes to the understanding of plasma-neutral interactions especially in new generation, closed divertor concepts (i.e. MAST-upgrade, DIII-D).