First observation of pT fusion in JET tritium plasmas with ICRF heating of protons

摘要

High power ICRF heating of a hydrogen minority ion species in JET tritium plasmas has generated a total neutron rate that is about 40/100 larger than the 1 14 MeV neutron rate originating from fusion reactions between bulk tritium ions and deuterium minority ions. The T(p,n)~3He fusion reaction, caused by ICRF accelerated protons, is identified as a source for producing the excess neutron emission. This reaction is endothermic and has a proton energy threshold of about 1 MeV and a peak cross-section at about 3.0 MeV.