High-temperature plasmas in a tokamak fusion test reactor

Abstract

Neutral-beam heating of plasmas in the Tokamak Fusion Test Reactor at low preinjection densities [${n}_{e}$(0)\ensuremath{\simeq}${10}^{19}$ ${\mathrm{m}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}3}$] were characterized by ${T}_{e}$(0)=6.5 keV, ${T}_{i}$(0)=20 keV, ${n}_{e}$(0)=7\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{19}$ ${\mathrm{m}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}3}$, ${\ensuremath{\tau}}_{E}$=170 msec, ${\ensuremath{\beta}}_{\mathrm{theta}}$=2, and a d(d,n${)}^{3}$He neutron emission rate of ${10}^{16}$ ${\mathrm{sec}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}1}$. The ion temperature and the deuterium-fusion neutron yields were significantly higher than for previous tokamak experiments. The low initial densities were achieved by operation of the Tokamak Fusion Test Reactor with low plasma currents (\ensuremath{\le}1 MA) and by extensive limiter conditioning.