Noninductive current drive experiments on DIII-D, and future plans

摘要

Experiments on DIII-D (and other tokamaks) have shown that improved performance can follow from optimization of the current density profile. Increased confinement of energy and a higher limit on beta have both been found in discharges in which the current density profile is modified through transient means, such as ramping of current or elongation. Peaking of the current distribution to obtain discharges with high internal inductance (ell)(sub i) has been found to be beneficial. Alternatively, discharges with broader profiles, as in the VH-mode or with high beta poloidal, have shown improved performance. Noninductive current drive is a means to access these modes of improved confinement on a steady state basis. Accordingly, experiments on noninductive current drive are underway on the DIII-D tokamak using fast waves, electron cyclotron waves. Recent experiments on fast wave current drive have demonstrated the ability to drive up to 180 kA of noninductive current using 1.5 MW of power at 60 MHz, including the contribution from 1 MW of ECCD and the bootstrap current. Higher power rf current drive systems are needed to strongly affect the current profile on DIII-D. An upgrade to the FWCD system is underway to increase the total power to 6 MW, using two additional antennas and two new 30 to 120 MHz transmitters. Additionally, a 1 MW prototype ECH system at 110 GHz is being developed (with eventual upgrade to 10 MW). With these systems, noninductive current drive at the 1 MA level will be available for experiments on profile control in DIII-D.