Measurement of Neutron Flux at the Initial Phase of Discharge in EAST

Neutron emission in EAST was investigated by a time-resolved monitor system which consists of four 3He proportional counters and a 235U fission chamber. The D-D neutron flux increased approximately an order of magnitude during the 27 MHz ion-cyclotron radio frequency (ICRF) heating, demonstrating that the ICRF wave heated the plasma effectively. In addition in lower hybrid wave (LHW) experiment with higher plasma parameters D-D neutrons were also detected. However, masses of photoneutrons were generated in Ohmic discharges with low plasma density. Effect of plasma density on the production of photoneutrons was studied, and it is found that LHW can suppress the generation of the runaway electrons and reduce the share of the photoneutrons effectively.