The Physics of Tokamak Start-up
Authors: D. Mueller
Abstract:
Tokamak start-up on present-day devices usually relies on inductively
induced voltage from a central solenoid. In some cases inductive startup is
assisted with auxiliary power from electron cyclotron radio frequency heating.
ITER, the National Spherical Torus eXperiment Upgrade and JT60, now under
construction, will make use of the understanding gained from present-day
devices to ensure successful start-up. Design of a spherical tokamak (ST) with
DT capability for nuclear component testing would require an alternative to a
central solenoid because the small central column in an ST has insufficient space
to provide shielding for the insulators in the solenoid. Alternative start-up
techniques such as induction using outer poloidal field coils, electron Bernstein
wave start-up, coaxial helicity injection and point source helicity injection have
been used with success, but require demonstration of scaling to higher plasma
current.
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Submitted to: Physics of Plasmas (December 2012)
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Download PPPL-4836 (pdf 5.3 MB 37 pp)
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