Energetic Particle Physics In Fusion Research In Preparation For Burning Plasma Experiments
Authors: Nikolai N. Gorelenkov, et. al.
Abstract:
The area of energetic particle (EP) physics of fusion research has been actively and
extensively researched in recent decades. The progress achieved in advancing and understanding EP
physics has been substantial since the last comprehensive review on this topic by W.W. Heidbrink
and G.J. Sadler [1]. That review coincided with the start of deuterium-tritium (DT) experiments on
Tokamak Fusion Test reactor (TFTR) and full scale fusion alphas physics studies.
Fusion research in recent years has been influenced by EP physics in many ways including
the limitations imposed by the "sea" of Alfven eigenmodes (AE) in particular by the toroidicityinduced
AEs (TAE) modes and reversed shear Alfven (RSAE). In present paper we attempt a broad
review of EP physics progress in tokamaks and spherical tori since the first DT experiments on
TFTR and JET (Joint European Torus) including helical/stellarator devices. Introductory
discussions on basic ingredients of EP physics, i.e. particle orbits in STs, fundamental diagnostic
techniques of EPs and instabilities, wave particle resonances and others are given to help
understanding the advanced topics of EP physics. At the end we cover important and interesting
physics issues toward the burning plasma experiments such as ITER (International Thermonuclear
Experimental Reactor).
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Submitted to: Nuclear Fusion (June 2013)
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Download PPPL-5020 (pdf 372 Kb 137 pp)
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