The physics of spherical torus plasmas

Broad and important progress in plasma tests, theory, new experiments, and future visions of the spherical torus (ST, or very low aspect ratio tokamaks) have recently emerged. These have substantially improved our understanding of the potential properties of the ST plasmas, since the preliminary calculation of the ST magnetohydrodynamic equilibria more than a decade ago. Exciting data have been obtained from concept exploration level ST experiments of modest capabilities (with major radii up to 35 cm), making important scientific contributions to toroidal confinement in general. The results have helped approval and construction of new and/or more powerful ST experiments, and stimulated an increasing number of theoretical calculations of interest to magnetic fusion energy. Utilizing the broad knowledge base from the successful tokamak and advanced tokamak research, a wide range of new ST physics features has been suggested. These properties of the ST plasma will be tested at the 1 MA level with major radiu...

[1]  A. Mattick,et al.  Results from current drive experiments on the Helicity Injected Torus , 1998 .

[2]  I. Jones.  A review of rotating magnetic field current drive and the operation of the rotamak as a field-reversed configuration (Rotamak-FRC) and a spherical tokamak (Rotamak-ST) , 1999 .

[3]  M. Inomoto,et al.  Experimental investigation of three-component magnetic reconnection by use of merging spheromaks and tokamaks , 1997 .

[4]  M. Katsurai,et al.  Experimental investigation on tilt stabilizing effect of external toroidal field in low aspect ratio tokamak , 1997 .

[5]  D. Stutman,et al.  High-harmonic fast magnetosonic wave coupling, propagation, and heating in a spherical torus plasma , 1998 .

[6]  C. Roach,et al.  Magneto-hydro-dynamic limits in spherical tokamaks , 1999 .

[7]  High harmonic fast waves in high beta plasmas , 1995 .

[8]  Olivier Sauter,et al.  Stable equilibria for bootstrap-current driven low aspect ratio tokamaks , 1996 .

[9]  E. J. Synakowski,et al.  Formation and structure of internal and edge transport barriers , 1998 .

[10]  A. Sykes.  High β produced by neutral beam injection in the START (Small Tight Aspect Ratio Tokamak) spherical tokamak , 1997 .

[11]  F. Hinton,et al.  Effect of impurity particles on the finite-aspect ratio neoclassical ion thermal conductivity in a tokamak , 1986 .

[12]  Neil Pomphrey,et al.  Modelling of the toroidal asymmetry of poloidal halo currents in conducting structures , 1998 .

[13]  Chris C. Hegna.  Nonlinear dynamics of pressure driven magnetic islands in low aspect ratio tokamaks , 1999 .

[14]  L. Lao,et al.  PROGRESS TOWARDS SUSTAINMENT OF ADVANCED TOKAMAK MODES IN DIII-D , 1998 .

[15]  R. Gruber,et al.  MHD-limits to plasma confinement , 1984 .

[16]  Chris C. Hegna,et al.  The physics of neoclassical magnetohydrodynamic tearing modes , 1998 .

[17]  G. Staebler,et al.  Effects of velocity shear and magnetic shear in the formation of core transport barriers in the DIII-D tokamak , 1998 .

[18]  R. Kaita,et al.  New electron cyclotron emission diagnostic for measurement of temperature based upon the electron Bernstein wave , 1999 .

[19]  Conway,et al.  H-Mode operation in the START spherical tokamak , 2000, Physical review letters.

[20]  Zhang,et al.  Formation and sustainment of a 150 kA tokamak by coaxial helicity injection. , 1994, Physical review letters.

[21]  S. Jardin,et al.  Physics basis for the ARIES-ST power plant , 1999, 18th IEEE/NPSS Symposium on Fusion Engineering. Symposium Proceedings (Cat. No.99CH37050).

[22]  R. E. Hatcher,et al.  Circuit equation formulation of resistive wall mode feedback stabilization schemes , 1998 .

[23]  K. Shaing,et al.  Effects of orbit distortion on classical transport , 1998 .

[24]  J. Manickam,et al.  Ideal MHD stability limits of low aspect ratio tokamak plasmas , 1997 .

[25]  S. Kruger,et al.  Geometrical influences on neoclassical magnetohydrodynamic tearing modes , 1998 .

[26]  R. A. Cairns,et al.  A full wave theory of high-harmonic fast wave absorption in high-beta plasmas , 1998 .

[27]  M. Ono,et al.  Physics design of the national spherical torus experiment , 1999 .

[28]  Parallel current in anisotropic high-beta extremely low aspect ratio tokamak plasmas , 1999 .

[29]  Dennis J Strickler,et al.  Features of spherical torus plasmas , 1986 .

[30]  L. L. Lao,et al.  Beta limits in long-pulse tokamak discharges , 1997 .

[31]  M. Kotschenreuther,et al.  Attaining neoclassical transport in ignited tokamaks , 2000 .

[32]  T. S. Taylor,et al.  Physics of advanced tokamaks , 1997 .

[33]  Thomas R. Jarboe,et al.  Formation and steady-state sustainment of a tokamak by coaxial helicity injection , 1989 .

[34]  G. McArdle,et al.  Neoclassical islands on COMPASS-D , 1997 .

[35]  D. Robinson.  The physics of spherical confinement systems , 1999 .

[36]  M. Gryaznevich,et al.  Achievement of Record β in the START Spherical Tokamak , 1998 .

[37]  J. Manickam,et al.  Advanced tokamak physics-status and prospects , 1994 .

[38]  I. Hutchinson,et al.  Disruptions and halo currents in Alcator C-Mod , 1996 .

[39]  D. Humphreys,et al.  Analytic modeling of axisymmetric disruption halo currents , 1999 .

[40]  G. Gantenbein,et al.  Experiments on neoclassical tearing mode stabilization by ECCD in ASDEX Upgrade , 1999 .