ABSTRACT
A gated oscillating power amplifier has been developed for high frequency biasing and real time turbulent feedback experiments in the Saskatchewan Torus-modified tokamak. This oscillator is capable of providing a peak to peak oscillating output voltage of around ±60 V with a current around 30 A within the frequency band 1 kHz-50 kHz without any distortions. The overall output power is amplified by a two-stage metal oxide semiconductor field-effect transistor power op-amp as well as nine identical push-pull amplifiers in the final stages. The power amplifier input signal, collected from the plasma floating potential during the tokamak discharge, is optically isolated from the tokamak vessel ground. The filtered floating potential fluctuations with a band width of 5 kHz-40 kHz were amplified and fed to an electrode inserted into the plasma edge to study the response of the plasma turbulence. We observe that magnetic fluctuations are suppressed due to real time feedback of the floating potential.
ABSTRACT
Excitation of low frequency drift waves in a radial region of a weak density gradient is demonstrated experimentally by strong temporal modulation of the plasma density. Though a parallel electron current can destabilize drift waves throughout the region, we observe mode selection at the resonant location matching the frequency of modulation. Parametric mode-mode interaction among two excited drift modes to destabilize a higher frequency one is reported under the specific condition of the growth rate. Theoretically estimated growth rates fit well with the experiment.
ABSTRACT
The Magnetized Plasma Linear Experimental (MaPLE) device is a low cost laboratory plasma device at Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics fabricated in-house with the primary aim of studying basic plasma physics phenomena such as plasma instabilities, wave propagation, and their nonlinear behavior in magnetized plasma regime in a controlled manner. The machine is specially designed to be a versatile laboratory device that can provide a number of magnetic and electric scenario to facilitate such studies. A total of 36 number of 20-turn magnet coils, designed such as to allow easy handling, is capable of producing a uniform, dc magnetic field of about 0.35 T inside the plasma chamber of diameter 0.30 m. Support structure of the coils is planned in an innovative way facilitating straightforward fabrication and easy positioning of the coils. Further special feature lies in the arrangement of the spacers between the coils that can be maneuvered rather easily to create different magnetic configurations. Various methods of plasma production can be suitably utilized according to the experimental needs at either end of the vacuum vessel. In the present paper, characteristics of a steady state plasma generated by electron cyclotron resonance method using 2.45 GHz microwave power are presented. Scans using simple probe drives revealed that a uniform and long plasma column having electron density approximately 3-5x10(10) cm(-3) and temperature approximately 7-10 eV, is formed in the center of the plasma chamber which is suitable for wave launching experiments.
