ABSTRACT
In the late 1990s, fusion scientists at the Japanese tokamak JT-60U discovered abrupt large-amplitude events during beam-driven deuterium plasma experiments. A large spike in the magnetic fluctuation signal followed by a drop in the neutron emission rate indicates that energetic ions abruptly migrate out of the plasma core during an intense burst of Alfvén waves that lasts only 0.3 ms. With continued beam injection, the energetic ion population recovers until the next event occurs 40-60 ms later. Here we present results from simulations that successfully reproduce multiple migration cycles and report numerical and experimental evidence for the multi-mode nature of these intermittent phenomena. Moreover, we elucidate the role of collisional slow-down and show that the large-amplitude Alfvénic fluctuations can drive magnetic reconnection and induce macroscopic magnetic islands. In this way, our simulations allow us to gradually unravel the underlying physical processes and develop predictive capabilities.
ABSTRACT
Energetic-particle-driven geodesic acoustic modes (EGAMs) observed in a Large Helical Device experiment are investigated using a hybrid simulation code for energetic particles interacting with a magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) fluid. The frequency chirping of the primary mode and the sudden excitation of the half-frequency secondary mode are reproduced for the first time with the hybrid simulation using the realistic physical condition and the three-dimensional equilibrium. Both EGAMs have global spatial profiles which are consistent with the experimental measurements. For the secondary mode, the bulk pressure perturbation and the energetic particle pressure perturbation cancel each other out, and thus the frequency is lower than the primary mode. It is found that the excitation of the secondary mode does not depend on the nonlinear MHD coupling. The secondary mode is excited by energetic particles that satisfy the linear and nonlinear resonance conditions, respectively, for the primary and secondary modes.
ABSTRACT
Nonlinear frequency chirping of the energetic-particle-driven geodesic acoustic mode (EGAM) is investigated using a hybrid simulation code for energetic particles interacting with a magnetohydrodynamic fluid. It is demonstrated in the simulation result that both frequency chirping up and chirping down take place in the nonlinear evolution of the EGAM. It is found that two hole-clump pairs are formed in the energetic particle distribution function in two-dimensional velocity space of pitch angle variable and energy. One pair is formed in the phase space region that destabilizes the instability, while the other is formed in the stabilizing region. The transit frequency of the hole (clump) in the destabilizing region chirps up (down), while in the stabilizing region the hole (clump) chirps down (up). The transit frequencies of particles in the holes and clumps are in good agreement with the chirping EGAM frequency indicating that the particles are kept resonant with the EGAM during the nonlinear frequency chirping. Continuous energy transfer takes place from the destabilizing phase space region to the stabilizing region during the spontaneous frequency chirping of the wave.
ABSTRACT
The internal behavior of fast ions interacting with magnetohydrodynamic bursts excited by energetic ions has been experimentally investigated in the compact helical system. The resonant convective oscillation of fast ions was identified inside the last closed-flux surface during an energetic-particle mode (EPM) burst. The phase difference between the fast-ion oscillation and the EPM, indicating the coupling strength between them, remains a certain value during the EPM burst and drives an anomalous transport of fast ions.
