Fast nondiffusive response of heat and turbulence pulse propagation.

The experimental findings from the Large Helical Device have demonstrated a fast, nondiffusive behavior during the propagation of heat pulses, with an observed increase in speed with reduction in their temporal width. Concurrent propagation of the temperature gradient and turbulence, in a timeframe spanning from a few milliseconds to tens of milliseconds, aligned with the avalanche model. These results indicate that the more spatiotemporally localized the heat and turbulence pulses are, the greater the deviation of the plasma from its equilibrium state, coupled with faster propagation velocity. This insight is pivotal for future fusion reactors, which necessitate the maintenance of a steady-state, non-equilibrium condition.

Experimental study on chorus emission in an artificial magnetosphere.

Wave particle interaction plays an important role in geospace and space weather phenomena. Whistler mode chorus emissions, characterized by non-linear growth and frequency chirping, are common in planetary magnetospheres. They are regarded as the origin of relativistic acceleration of particles in the radiation belts and pulsating aurora. Intensive theoretical investigations and spacecraft observations have revealed several important features of chorus emissions. However, there is a need to conduct high-resolution and reproducible controlled laboratory experiments to deepen the understanding of space weather. Here, we present the spontaneous excitation of chirping whistler waves in hot-electron high-ß plasma (ß is the ratio of the plasma pressure to the magnetic pressure) in an "artificial magnetosphere", a levitated dipole experiment. These experiments suggest that the generation and nonlinear growth of coherent chorus emissions are ubiquitous in dipole magnetic configuration. We anticipate that these experiments will accelerate the laboratory investigation of space weather phenomena.

First application of data assimilation-based control to fusion plasma.

Magnetic fusion plasmas, which are complex systems comprising numerous interacting elements, have large uncertainties. Therefore, future fusion reactors require prediction-based advanced control systems with an adaptive system model and control estimation robust to uncertainties in the model and observations. To address this challenge, we introduced a control approach based on data assimilation (DA), which describes the system model adaptation and control estimation based on the state probability distribution. The first implementation of a DA-based control system was achieved at the Large Helical Device to control the high temperature plasma. The experimental results indicate that the control system enhanced the predictive capability using real-time observations and adjusted the electron cyclotron heating power for a target temperature. The DA-based control system provides a flexible platform for advanced control in future fusion reactors.

Increased signal separation upgrade permits preliminary electron anisotropy measurements with Heliotron J multi-pass Thomson diagnostic.

A signal separation system is constructed on the multi-pass Thomson scattering system of Heliotron J to solve the problem of overlapping scattered light signals for the electron temperature anisotropy measurement. The phenomenon of overlapping scattered light signals is relieved by operating the signal separation system. A Raman scattering experiment is undertaken to verify the separation effect of the signal separation system. Two scattered light signals corresponding to two adjacent incidences of one laser shot were extended to 104 ns. Moreover, we applied the multi-pass Thomson scattering system with signal separation system to the electron temperature anisotropy measurement. No anisotropy was observed within the error bars in the initial experiment.

Design of a dual scattering angle multi-pass Thomson scattering system with signal separation function on Heliotron J.

This paper proposes a design of dual scattering angles multi-path Thomson scattering system with a signal separation function to solve the overlapping phenomenon of scattered light signals and to increase the measurement accuracy for the investigation of anisotropic electron velocity distribution. Furthermore, an optical path design is proposed to demonstrate how overlapping scattered light signals can be separated by setting the optical path in a limited room with a compact layout, which makes the incident interval between two overlapping scattered light signals 1.7 times longer than that of our current system. The specific position of each optical component existing in the system is determined via a Gaussian beam analysis to avoid damage caused by overexpansion of spot size with the application of two cooperating image relay systems. Conversely, a polychromator is optimized by resetting the pass waveband of the interference filter combination to achieve high accuracy in electron temperature (Te) measurement corresponding to two scattering angles simultaneously.

Collective Thomson scattering diagnostic with in situ calibration system for velocity space analysis in large helical device.

A collective Thomson scattering (CTS) diagnostic with a ±3 GHz band around a 77 GHz gyrotron probe beam was developed to measure the velocity distribution of bulk and fast ions in high-temperature plasmas. We propose a new in situ calibration method for a CTS diagnostic system combined with a raytracing code. The method is applied in two situations for electron cyclotron emission in plasmas and in a CTS diagnostic with a modulated probe beam. Experimental results highlight the importance of refraction correction in probe and receive beams. The CTS spectrum is measured with the in situ calibrated CTS receiver and responds to fast ions originating from a tangential neutral beam with an energy of 170 keV and from a perpendicular beam with an energy of 60 keV, both in the large helical device. From a velocity space analysis model, the results elucidate the measured anisotropic CTS spectrum caused by fast ions. The calibration methods and analyses demonstrated here are essential for CTS, millimeter-wave diagnostics, and electron cyclotron heating required under fusion reactor conditions.

Calibration of coherence imaging spectroscopy using spectral line sources.

Coherence imaging spectroscopy (CIS) measures the two-dimensional profiles of both ion temperature and ion velocity in plasmas. The interferometric technique is realized by a certain relation between the phase and the wavelength of light emerging from a birefringent crystal. The calibration for the CIS system requires monochromatic and tunable light sources near the He II line (468.6 nm) or C III line (465 nm) where the CIS measures. In this research, the CIS system has been upgraded by implementing an electron multiplier CCD and a CIS cell. A monochromator validates the linearity of the phase relation on the wavelength near the He II line. As an in situ calibration at the Ring Trap 1 plasma device, two spectral lines of Ti and Zn lamps obtain the accurate dispersion function of phase. It is found that a simple method with two spectral lines is reliable and sufficient for the calibration.