Physical Review Letters · 2010 · 59 citations · 24 references
Natural SciencesNuclear EngineeringPhysicsFusion EngineeringPlasma PhysicsRadiation TransportFusion PlasmasHigh-temperature PlasmasMagnetic Confinement FusionMagnetized PlasmaPlasma ConfinementPlasma HeatingDivertor PhysicsElectron HeatingSnowflake Divertor ConfigurationSnowflake DivertorsTokamak ConfinementTokamak PhysicsTokamak PlasmasTokamak Stability
An edge-localized mode (ELM) H-mode regime, supported by electron cyclotron heating, has been successfully established in a "snowflake" (second-order null) divertor configuration for the first time in the TCV tokamak. This regime exhibits 2 to 3 times lower ELM frequency and 20%-30% increased normalized ELM energy (ΔWELM/Wp) compared to an identically shaped, conventional single-null diverted H mode. Enhanced stability of mid- to high-toroidal-mode-number ideal modes is consistent with the different snowflake ELM phenomenology. The capability of the snowflake to redistribute the edge power on the additional strike points has been confirmed experimentally.
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