Observations concerning the injection of a lithium aerosol into the edge of TFTR discharges

D. K. Mansfield, D. W. Johnson, B. Grek, H. W. Kugel, M. G. Bell, R. E. Bell, R. V. Budny, C. E. Bush, E. D. Fredrickson, K. W. Hill, D. L. Jassby, R. J. Maqueda, H. K. Park, A. T. Ramsey, E. J. Synakowski, G. Taylor, G. A. Wurden

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

109 Scopus citations

Abstract

A new method of actively modifying the plasma-wall interaction was tested on the Tokamak Fusion Test Reactor. A laser was used to introduce a directed lithium aerosol into the discharge scrape-off layer. The lithium introduced in this fashion ablated and migrated preferentially to the limiter contact points. This allowed the plasma-wall interaction to be influenced in situ and in real time by external means. Significant improvement in energy confinement and fusion neutron production rate as well as a reduction in the plasma Zeff have been documented in a neutral beam heated plasma. The introduction of a metallic aerosol into the plasma edge increased the internal inductance of the plasma column and also resulted in prompt heating of core electrons in ohmic plasmas. Preliminary evidence also suggests that the introduction of an aerosol leads to both edge poloidal velocity shear and edge electric field shear.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1823-1834
Number of pages12
JournalNuclear Fusion
Volume41
Issue number12
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 2001

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