Overview of physics basis for ITER

TLDR

ITER is the first magnetic confinement device to operate with burning DT plasma and generate ~0.5 GW of fusion power, with its plasma parameters predicted by the ITER Physics Basis and designed for flexible steady‑state and hybrid regimes. The paper investigates inductively driven plasma performance in ITER. It examines the requirements for steady‑state operation in ITER. Recent results confirm that inductive H‑mode operation can achieve Q ≥ 10, with improved H‑mode confinement near the Greenwald limit, better core confinement predictions, enhanced helium ash removal, effective tearing‑mode control raising β, advanced ELM mitigation, and disruption suppression. Fusion 39:2175.

Abstract

ITER will be the first magnetic confinement device with burning DT plasma and fusion power of about 0.5 GW. Parameters of ITER plasma have been predicted using methodologies summarized in the ITER Physics Basis (1999 Nucl. Fusion 39 2175). During the past few years, new results have been obtained that substantiate confidence in achieving Q ⩾ 10 in ITER with inductive H-mode operation. These include achievement of a good H-mode confinement near the Greenwald density at high triangularity of the plasma cross section; improvements in theory-based confinement projections for the core plasma, even though further studies are needed for understanding the transport near the plasma edge; improvement in helium ash removal due to the elastic collisions of He atoms with D/T ions in the divertor predicted by modelling; demonstration of feedback control of neoclassical tearing modes and resultant improvement in the achievable β-values; better understanding of edge localized mode (ELM) physics and development of ELM mitigation techniques; and demonstration of mitigation of plasma disruptions. ITER will have a flexibility to operate also in steady-state and intermediate (hybrid) regimes. The 'advanced tokamak' regimes with weak or negative central magnetic shear and internal transport barriers are considered as potential scenarios for steady-state operation. The paper concentrates on inductively driven plasma performance and discusses requirements for steady-state operation in ITER.