Progress in confinement and stability with plasma shape and profile control for steady-state operation in the Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute Tokamak-60 Upgrade

This paper describes the latest achievements of the Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute Tokamak-60 Upgrade (JT-60U) [H. Kimura and the JT-60 Team, Phys. Plasmas 3, 1943 (1996)] for the establishment of the physics and technology basis for steady-state, fully noninductive current-drive plasmas with high fusion performance. Recent results are highlighted by (1) high performance reversed-magnetic-shear discharges [an idealized equivalent QDT of 1.05, a confinement-enhancement factor (H factor) of 3.23, and a normalized beta value (βN) of 1.88 at Ip=2.8 MA/Pabs=17 MW]; the first observation of thermal transport barriers both for electrons and ions, (2) the first injection of negative-ion-based neutral deuterium beams in the world for studies of current drive, heating, and high-energy particle behavior (achieved so far: 2.5 MW/400 keV, design values: 10 MW/500 keV); high neutralization efficiency of 60% at 370 keV; high current drive efficiency of ηCD=8×1018 m−2 A/W, (3) improved giant edge-localized-mode (...

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