Low-Threshold Induced-Side-Scattering Instability at the Tokamak Edge Transport Barrier Predicted in O-Mode Electron Cyclotron Resonance Heating Experiments.

The trapping of a lower hybrid wave in the tokamak edge transport barrier is predicted, reducing by 3 orders of magnitude the excitation threshold for the absolute parametric decay instability that leads to side scattering of the ordinary microwave pump in electron cyclotron resonance heating (ECRH) experiments. This process is similar to the stimulated Raman scattering instability in laser physics and can result in substantial anomalous scattering of the pump wave, like in laser fusion experiments. The corresponding broadening of the ECRH power deposition profile can reduce the ability of this method to control the neoclassical tearing modes both in present day machines, as ASDEX-Upgrade, where the theory can be checked, and in fusion reactors such as ITER and DEMO.

Multiscale investigations of drift-wave turbulence and plasma flows: measurements and total-distribution-function gyrokinetic simulations.

Direct measurements of micro-, meso-, and macroscale transport phenomena in the FT-2 tokamak are shown to be quantitatively reproduced by global full f nonlinear gyrokinetic simulation predictions. A detailed agreement with mean equilibrium E×B flows, oscillating fine-scale zonal flows, and turbulence spectra observed by a set of sophisticated microwave backscattering techniques as well as a good fit of the thermal diffusivity data are demonstrated. A clear influence of the impurity ions on the fluctuating radial electric field is observed.

Low threshold parametric decay backscattering instability in tokamak electron cyclotron resonance heating experiments.

The experimental conditions leading to substantial reduction of the backscattering decay instability threshold in electron cyclotron resonance heating experiments in toroidal devices are analyzed. It is shown that a drastic decrease of threshold is provided by the nonmonotonic behavior of plasma density in the vicinity of magnetic island and poloidal magnetic field inhomogeneity making possible localization of ion Bernstein decay waves. The corresponding ion Bernstein wave gain and the parametric decay instability pump power threshold is calculated.

Suppression and feedback control of anomalous induced backscattering by pump-frequency modulation.

The possibility of induced backscattering parametric decay instability resonant suppression by harmonic pump-frequency modulation is demonstrated experimentally. It is shown that the pump anomalous reflection is strongly reduced at the modulation frequency equal to the difference of the decay instability eigenfrequencies. The parametric instability feedback control method is proposed based on this effect.