PPPL-5385

Non-axisymmetric ideal equilibrium and stability of ITER plasmas with rotating RMPs

Author: S.A. Lazerson

Abstract: The magnetic perturbations produced by the resonant magnetic perturbation (RMP) coils will be rotated in ITER so that the spiral patterns due to strike point splitting which are locked to the RMP also rotate. This is to ensure even power deposition on the divertor plates. VMEC equilibria are calculated for different phases of the RMP rotation. It is demonstrated that the off harmonics rotate in the opposite direction to the main harmonic. This is an important topic for future research to control and optimize ITER appropriately. High confinement mode (H-mode) is favourable for the economics of a potential fusion power plant and its use is planned in ITER. However, the high pressure gradient at the edge of the plasma can trigger periodic eruptions called edge localized modes (ELMs). ELMs have the potential to shorten the life of the divertor in ITER [Loarte et al. Plasma Phys. Control. Fusion (2003) 45 1549] and so methods for mitigating or suppressing ELMs in ITER will be important. Non-axisymmetric RMP coils will be installed in ITER for ELM control. Sampling theory is used to show that there will be significant a ncoils−nrmp harmonic sideband. There are nine coils toroidally in ITER so ncoils = 9. This results in a significant n = 6 component to the nrmp = 3 applied field and a significant n = 5 component to the nrmp = 4 applied field. Although the vacuum field has similar amplitudes of these harmonics the plasma response to the various harmonics dictates the final equilibrium. Magnetic perturbations with toroidal mode number n = 3 and n = 4 are applied to a 15MA,  q95 ≈ 3 burning ITER plasma. We use a three-dimensional ideal magnetohydrodynamic model (VMEC) to calculate ITER
equilibria with applied RMPs and to determine growth rates of infinite n ballooning modes (COBRA). The nrmp = 4 case shows little change in ballooning mode growth rate as the RMP is rotated, however there is a change with rotation for the nrmp = 3 case.

Submitted to: Physics of Plasmas
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