Experimental observation of the blob-generation mechanism from interchange waves in a plasma

Four-dimensional conditional averaging tomography of rotating plasma ejection from cylindrical detached plasma

Detached plasma formation is a way to reduce the heat load on the wall in magnetic fusion devices. This study proposes a novel analysis technique consisting of the conditional averaging, sliding window, and tomography to reveal the spatiotemporal behavior of the rotating radial ejection event of detached plasma, which further contributes to local heat load reduction. The used equipment is a high-speed camera and an electrostatic probe located at the periphery of the linear plasma device NAGDIS-II. By applying this method, four-dimensional (4D) behavior of the emission structure along time (1D) and space perpendicular and parallel to the magnetic field (3D) was clarified; a rotating distorted structure appears as a precursor, which is then scraped and transported radially and axially. The proposed method is widely applicable to short-term rigid-body rotating structures, especially in linear plasmas.

Theory of coupled resistive drift and resistive drift ballooning instabilities in fusion plasma

Drift wave instabilities (DWI) associated with the two-fluid dynamics seems to be responsible for anomalous transport in modern day tokamaks. Ballooning instabilities tend to exchange flux tubes of different pressure, resulting in convective transport. The micro-level turbulence (drift wave) is coupled with the macro-level (ballooning mode) dynamics in fusion experiments. The co-existence of DWI and drift ballooning instabilities (DBI) is discussed in this work using a four-field plasma model. The formulation preserves both the microscopic and macroscopic dynamics of plasma. To demonstrate the coupling, a new dispersion relation is derived to analyze stability of the coupled modes in a non-uniform magnetized plasma. Linear stability of coupled drift-ballooning and drift-acoustic modes have been explored. The two-fluid effect (micro-level influence) through diamagnetic drift frequency for electrons and curvature drift frequency on unstable modes are demonstrated.

Cathodoluminescent screen imaging system for seeded blob detection in toroidal plasma experiment

We designed and built a diagnostic based on a cathodoluminescent screen for the detection of turbulent plasma structures with high spatial resolution. The screen is coated with a low threshold energy cathodoluminescent powder that emits light when exposed to a plasma. The emitted light is imaged with a fast frame camera combined with an image intensifier and an optical bandpass filter. The diagnostic is used to study turbulent structures and seeded blobs. The results are analyzed with pattern recognition algorithms to track the turbulent structures and study their evolution in time.

Truncated Lévy motion through path integrals and applications to nondiffusive suprathermal ion transport

Fractional Levy motion has been derived from its generalized Langevin equation via path integrals in earlier works and has since proven to be a useful model for nonlocal and non-Markovian processes, especially in the context of nondiffusive transport. Here, we generalize the approach to treat tempered Lévy distributions and derive the propagator and diffusion equation of truncated asymmetrical fractional Levy motion via path integrals. The model now recovers exponentially tempered tails above a chosen scale in the propagator, and therefore finite moments at all orders. Concise analytical expressions for its variance, skewness, and kurtosis are derived as a function of time. We then illustrate the versatility of this model by applying it to simulations of the turbulent transport of fast ions in the TORPEX basic plasma device.

Time intermittency in nondiffusive transport regimes of suprathermal ions in turbulent plasmas

Intermittent phenomena have long been studied in the context of nondiffusive transport across a variety of fields. In the TORPEX device, the cross-field spreading of an injected suprathermal ion beam by electrostatic plasma turbulence can access different nondiffusive transport regimes. A comprehensive set of suprathermal ion time series has been acquired, and time intermittency quantified by their skewness. Values distinctly above background level are found across all observed transport regimes. Intermittency tends to increase toward quasi- and superdiffusion and for longer propagation times of the suprathermal ions. The specific prevalence of intermittency is determined by the meandering motion of the instantaneous ion beam. We demonstrate the effectiveness of an analytical model developed to predict local intermittency from the time-average beam. This model might thus be of direct interest for similar systems, e.g., in beam physics, or meandering flux-rope models for solar energetic particle propagation. More generally, it illustrates the importance of identifying the system-specific sources of time-intermittent behavior when analyzing nondiffusive transport.

Millimeter-Wave Beam Scattering by Field-Aligned Blobs in Simple Magnetized Toroidal Plasmas

The first direct experimental measurements of the scattering of a millimeter-wave beam by plasma blobs in a simple magnetized torus are reported. The wavelength of the beam is comparable to the characteristic size of the blob. In situ Langmuir probe measurements show that fluctuations of the electron density induce correlated fluctuations of the transmitted power. A first-principles full-wave model, using conditionally sampled 2D electron density profiles, predicts fluctuations of the millimeter-wave power that are in agreement with experiments.

Dual Langmuir-probe array for 3D plasma studies in TORPEX

We have designed and installed a new Langmuir-probe (LP) array diagnostic to determine basic three-dimensional (3D) features of plasmas in TORPEX. The diagnostic consists of two identical LP arrays, placed on opposite sides of the apparatus, which provide comprehensive coverage of the poloidal cross section at the two different toroidal locations. Cross correlation studies of signals from the arrays provide a basic way to extract 3D information from the plasmas, as experiments show. Moreover, the remarkable signal-to-noise performance of the front-end electronics allows us to follow a different approach in which we combine information from all probes in both arrays to reconstruct elementary 3D plasma structures at each acquisition time step. Then, through data analysis, we track the structures as they evolve in time. The LP arrays include a linear-motion mechanism that can displace radially the probes located on the low field side for experiments that require fine-tuning of the probe locations, and for operational compatibility with the recently installed in-vessel toroidal conductor.

X-Point Effect on Plasma Blob Dynamics

Plasma blob dynamics on the high-field side in the proximity of a magnetic field null (X point) is investigated in TORPEX. A significant acceleration of the blobs towards the X point is observed. Close to the X point the blobs break apart. The E×B drifts associated with the blobs are measured, isolating the background drift component from the fluctuating contribution of the blob internal potential dipole. The time evolution of the latter is consistent with the fast blob dynamics. An analytical model based on charge conservation is derived for the potential dipole, including ion polarization, diamagnetic, and parallel currents. In the vicinity of the X point, a crucial role in determining the blob motion is played by the decrease of the poloidal magnetic field intensity. This variation increases the connection length that short circuits the potential dipole of the blob. Good quantitative agreement is found between the model and the experimental data in the initial accelerating phase of the blob dynamics.

Time-Resolved Measurements of Suprathermal Ion Transport Induced by Intermittent Plasma Blob Filaments

Suprathermal ion turbulent transport in magnetized plasmas is generally nondiffusive, ranging from subdiffusive to superdiffusive depending on the interplay of the turbulent structures and the suprathermal ion orbits. Here, we present time-resolved measurements of the cross-field suprathermal ion transport in a toroidal magnetized turbulent plasma. Measurements in the superdiffusive regime are characterized by a higher intermittency than in the subdiffusive regime. Using conditional averaging, we show that, when the transport is superdiffusive, suprathermal ions are transported by intermittent field-elongated turbulent structures that are radially propagating.

The new TORPEX in-vessel toroidal conductor for the generation of a poloidal magnetic field

TORoidal Plasma EXperiment (TORPEX) is a Simple Magnetized Torus featuring open helical magnetic field lines obtained from the superposition of a small vertical component on the main toroidal field. This work introduces the experimental setup developed to include a poloidal magnetic field. The toroidal and poloidal fields generate a rotational transform, making the magnetic geometry of TORPEX closer to that of a tokamak. This upgrade opens the possibility to deal with closed and open flux surfaces, as well as with the transition region across the last closed flux surface. The main technical solutions are discussed together with the physical considerations at the basis of the system design. Selected examples of the magnetic configurations accessible with the set of magnetic field coils available on TORPEX are discussed, ranging from single-null X-points to magnetic snowflakes. The simplest magnetic configuration of quasi-circular concentric flux surfaces is tested experimentally. Measurements of the two-dimensional electron plasma density profiles and the particle confinement time are presented, together with the first steps towards the understanding of plasma production mechanisms.

Effect of drift waves on plasma blob dynamics

Most of the work to date on plasma blobs found in the edge region of magnetic confinement devices is limited to 2D theory and simulations which ignore the variation of blob parameters along the magnetic field line. However, if the 2D convective rate of blobs is on the order of the growth rate of unstable drift waves, then drift wave turbulence can drastically alter the dynamics of blobs from that predicted by 2D theory. The density gradients in the drift plane that characterize the blob are mostly depleted during the nonlinear stage of drift waves resulting in a much more diffuse blob with a greatly reduced radial velocity. Sheath connected plasma blobs driven by effective gravity forces are considered in this Letter and it is found that the effects of resistive drift waves occur at earlier stages in the 2D motion for smaller blobs and in systems with a smaller effective gravity force. These conclusions are supported numerically by a direct comparison of 2D and 3D seeded blob simulations.

Convective cells and blob control in a simple magnetized plasma

Blob control by creating convective cells using biased electrodes is demonstrated in simple magnetized toroidal plasmas. A two-dimensional array of electrodes is installed on a metal limiter to obtain different biasing schemes. Detailed two-dimensional measurements across the magnetic field reveal the formation of a convective cell, which shows a high degree of uniformity along the magnetic field. Depending on the biasing scheme, radial and vertical blob velocities can be varied significantly. A high level of cross-field currents limits the achievable potential variations to values well below the applied bias voltage. Furthermore, the strongest potential variations are not induced along the biased flux tube, but at a position shifted in the direction of plasma flows.

Nondiffusive suprathermal ion transport in simple magnetized toroidal plasmas

We investigate suprathermal ion dynamics in simple magnetized toroidal plasmas in the presence of electrostatic turbulence driven by the ideal interchange instability. Turbulent fields from fluid simulations are used in the nonrelativistic equation of ion motion to compute suprathermal tracer ion trajectories. Suprathermal ion dispersion starts with a brief ballistic phase, during which particles do not interact with the plasma, followed by a turbulence interaction phase. In this one simple system, we observe the entire spectrum of suprathermal ion dynamics, from subdiffusion to superdiffusion, depending on beam energy and turbulence amplitude. We estimate the duration of the ballistic phase and identify basic mechanisms during the interaction phase that determine the dependencies of the character of suprathermal ion dispersion upon the beam energy and turbulence fluctuation amplitude.

Direct two-dimensional measurements of the field-aligned current associated with plasma blobs

In simple magnetized toroidal plasmas, field-aligned blobs originate from ideal interchange waves and propagate radially outward under the effect of ∇B and curvature induced E×B drifts. We report on the first experimental two-dimensional measurements of the field-aligned current associated with blobs, whose ends terminate on a conducting limiter. A dipolar structure of the current density is measured, which originates from ∇B and curvature induced polarization of the blob and is consistent with sheath boundary conditions. The dipole is strongly asymmetric due to the nonlinear dependence of the current density at the sheath edge upon the floating potential. Furthermore, we directly demonstrate the existence of two regimes, in which parallel currents to the sheath do or do not significantly damp charge separation and thus blob radial velocity.

Practical solutions for reliable triple probe measurements in magnetized plasmas

The triple probe method to obtain local, time-resolved measurements of density, electron temperature and plasma potential is investigated in detail. The difficulties in obtaining reliable measurements with this technique are discussed and overcome. These include phase delay errors, ion sheath expansion and limited bandwidth due to stray capacitance to ground. In particular, a relatively simple electronic circuit is described to strongly reduce stray capacitance. Measurements with the triple probe are presented in a plasma characterized by interchange-driven turbulence in the TORPEX device. The measured time-averaged and time-dependent, conditionally averaged parameters are cross-checked with other Langmuir probe based techniques, and show good agreement. Triple probe measurements show that electron temperature fluctuations are sufficiently large, such that the identification of plasma potential fluctuations with fluctuations of the floating potential is not a good approximation. Over a large radial region, the time-averaged fluctuation-induced particle flux can, however, be deduced from floating potential only. This is because the phase shift between density and electron temperature is close to zero there and temperature fluctuations do not give rise to a net radial particle transport.

Transport induced by large scale convective structures in a dipole-confined plasma

Convective structures characterized by E×B motion are observed in a dipole-confined plasma. Particle transport rates are calculated from density dynamics obtained from multipoint measurements and the reconstructed electrostatic potential. The calculated transport rates determined from the large-scale dynamics and local probe measurements agree in magnitude, show intermittency, and indicate that the particle transport is dominated by large-scale convective structures.

Intrinsic rotation from a residual stress at the boundary of a cylindrical laboratory plasma

An azimuthally symmetric radially sheared azimuthal flow is driven by a nondiffusive, or residual, turbulent stress localized to a narrow annular region at the boundary of a cylindrical magnetized helicon plasma device. A no-slip condition, imposed by ion-neutral flow damping outside the annular region, combined with a diffusive stress arising from turbulent and collisional viscous damping in the central plasma region, leads to net plasma rotation in the absence of momentum input.

Cross-field motion of plasma blobs in an open magnetic field line configuration

The radial propagation of blobs generated from plasma instabilities is investigated in an open magnetic field line configuration. Blob cross-field velocities and sizes are obtained from internal probe measurements using pattern recognition. By varying the ion mass, the normalized vertical blob scale a[over] is scanned from a[over] < 1 to a[over] > 1. An analytical expression for the blob velocity including cross-field ion polarization currents, parallel currents to the sheath, and ion-neutral collisions is derived and shows good quantitative agreement with the experimental data. In agreement with previous theoretical studies, this scaling shows that, for a[over] < 1, the blob velocity is limited by cross-field ion polarization currents, while for a[over] > 1 it is limited by parallel currents to the sheath.

Fast visible imaging of turbulent plasma in TORPEX

Fast framing cameras constitute an important recent diagnostic development aimed at monitoring light emission from magnetically confined plasmas, and are now commonly used to study turbulence in plasmas. In the TORPEX toroidal device [A. Fasoli et al., Phys. Plasmas 13, 055902 (2006)], low frequency electrostatic fluctuations associated with drift-interchange waves are routinely measured by means of extensive sets of Langmuir probes. A Photron Ultima APX-RS fast framing camera has recently been acquired to complement Langmuir probe measurements, which allows comparing statistical and spectral properties of visible light and electrostatic fluctuations. A direct imaging system has been developed, which allows viewing the light, emitted from microwave-produced plasmas tangentially and perpendicularly to the toroidal direction. The comparison of the probability density function, power spectral density, and autoconditional average of the camera data to those obtained using a multiple head electrostatic probe covering the plasma cross section shows reasonable agreement in the case of perpendicular view and in the plasma region where interchange modes dominate.

Dynamics of plasma blobs in a shear flow

The global dynamic of plasma blobs in a shear flow is investigated in a simple magnetized torus using the spatial Fourier harmonics (k-space) framework. Direct experimental evidence of a linear drift in k space of the density fluctuation energy synchronized with blob events is presented. During this drift, an increase of the fluctuation energy and a production of the kinetic energy associated with blobs are observed. The energy source of the blob is analyzed using an advection-dissipation-type equation that includes blob-flow exchange energy, linear drift in k space, nonlinear processes, and viscous dissipations. We show that blobs tap their energy from the dominant ExB vertical background flow during the linear drift stage. The exchange of energy is unidirectional as there is no evidence that blobs return energy to the flow.

Two-dimensional time resolved measurements of toroidal velocity correlated with density blobs in magnetized plasmas

A new method for toroidal velocity measurements with Mach probes is presented. This technique is based on the conditional sampling technique, the triggering events being density blobs. A reconstruction of the time resolved two-dimensional profile of electron density, electron temperature, plasma potential, and toroidal velocity is possible with a single point measurement on a shot-to-shot basis.

Cross-field transport by instabilities and blobs in a magnetized toroidal plasma

The mechanisms for anomalous transport across the magnetic field are investigated in a toroidal magnetized plasma. The role of plasma instabilities and macroscopic density structures (blobs) is discussed. Examples from a scenario with open magnetic field lines are shown. A transition from a main plasma region into a loss region is reproduced. In the main plasma, which includes particle and heat source locations, the transport is dominated by the fluctuation-induced particle and heat flux associated with a plasma instability. On the low-field side, the cross-field transport is ascribed to the intermittent ejection of macroscopic blobs propagating toward the outer wall. It is shown that instabilities and blobs represent fundamentally different mechanisms for cross-field transport.

High- and low-confinement modes in simple magnetized toroidal plasmas

Three-field simulations of interchange turbulence are presented for a simple magnetized toroidal plasma with a vertical magnetic field. The simulations show the presence of two turbulent regimes characterized by low (L) and high (H) confinement properties. We evaluate analytically the properties of the L regime, obtaining expressions for the plasma gradients and for the density and heat fluxes that agree well with the simulations. By increasing the plasma source strength or reducing the vertical magnetic field, a transition to a H regime occurs, in which a strong velocity shear limits the perpendicular transport with respect to the L scaling and the plasma profiles steepen. The analytic estimate of the transition condition is in accord with the simulations.