DECAF cross-device characterization of tokamak disruptions indicated by abnormalities in plasma vertical position and current

Autor: V. Zamkovska, S.A. Sabbagh, M. Tobin, J.W. Berkery, J.D. Riquezes, Y.S. Park, K. Erickson, J. Butt, J.G. Bak, J. Kim, K.D. Lee, J. Ko, S.W. Yoon, C.J. Ham, L. Kogan, the MAST Upgrade Team
Jazyk: angličtina
Rok vydání: 2024
Předmět:
Zdroj: Nuclear Fusion, Vol 64, Iss 6, p 066030 (2024)
Druh dokumentu: article
ISSN: 1741-4326
0029-5515
DOI: 10.1088/1741-4326/ad3fca
Popis: Abnormal (deviating from the target) variations in the plasma vertical position Z and current $I_\textrm{p}$ (such as vertical displacements, transient $I_\textrm{p}$ ‘spikes’ and quenches) constitute common elements of a disruption, a phenomenon that is to be mitigated, or ultimately avoided in future reactor-relevant tokamaks. While these abnormalities are generally recognized cross-shot and cross-device, details in terms of appearance (or not) and order of these abnormalities in disruption event chains (DEC) are bound to the plasma state at the time of the chain initiation. Detection of these abnormalities is thus indicative not only of the onset of the plasma collapse itself but also of the disruption driving cause that is promoted at a particular plasma state. Here, the occurrence of disruptions, explored via the detection of an $I_\textrm{p}$ quench, and the analysis of DEC constituted by $I_\textrm{p}$ and Z abnormalities is reported for in total seven full device-year pairs of operation of three machines (4, 2 and 1 years of KSTAR, MAST-U and NSTX-U operation, respectively) using the DECAF code expanded tools and capabilities. It is shown that the disruption occurrence depends not only on the details of the plasma state but also on (device-dependent) technical elements of the shot exit scenario. Year-to-year changes in the main disruption causes and a reduction in the disruptivity rate, bound by device and operation upgrades, are reported. Particular trigger instances of DEC (and the full chains when applicable) are shown to occupy different parts of the operation space diagrams, in accordance with prior expectations. Plasma elongation is identified as an important factor influencing details of the chains and its role will be further explored.
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