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At least 1,549 records · Page 86
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2025

The topology of non-resonant stellarator divertors

We apply topological methods to better understand how the magnetic field in the stellarator edge can be diverted away from the confined region. Our primary method is calculating the winding numbers of closed contours, which gives information on the number and nature of fixed points within a bounded region. We first apply this to the non-resonant divertor Hamiltonian system, and present a simple explanation for the system’s diversion: trajectories are guided away from the confined region by X-points which are ‘unpaired’ i.e. do not have corresponding O-points and therefore do not resemble an island chain. We show how similar phenomena can occur in a similar, axisymmetric Hamiltonian system. Secondly, we find examples of neoclassically optimised stellarators in the quasi-symmetric stellarator repository database which divert the magnetic field via unpaired X-points. We present and discuss three examples, each containing novel phenomena which might be desirable for stellarator divertors. These examples serve as an illustration of new divertor possibilities which exist in realistic stellarators, which may ultimately have application for future experiments and reactors.

X-points, topology↗
DOE OSTI2024

Overview of the first Wendelstein 7-X long pulse campaign with fully water-cooled plasma facing components

After a long device enhancement phase, scientific operation resumed in 2022. The main new device components are the water cooling of all plasma facing components and the new water-cooled high heat flux divertor units. Water cooling allowed for the first long-pulse operation campaign. A maximum discharge length of 8 min was achieved with a total heating energy of 1.3 GJ. Safe divertor operation was demonstrated in attached and detached mode. Stable detachment is readily achieved in some magnetic configurations but requires impurity seeding in configurations with small magnetic pitch angle within the edge islands. Progress was made in the characterization of transport mechanisms across edge magnetic islands: Measurement of the potential distribution and flow pattern reveals that the islands are associated with a strong poloidal drift, which leads to rapid convection of energy and particles from the last closed flux surface into the scrape-off layer. Using the upgraded plasma heating systems, advanced heating scenarios were developed, which provide improved energy confinement comparable to the scenario, in which the record triple product for stellarators was achieved in the previous operation campaign. However, a magnetic configuration-dependent critical heating power limit of the electron cyclotron resonance heating was observed. Exceeding the respective power limit leads to a degradation of the confinement.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2013

A MATHEMATICAL MODEL FOR AN HOURGLASS MAGNETIC FIELD

Starting with a mathematical boundary value problem for the magnetic vector potential in an axisymmetric cylindrical coordinate system, we derive a general solution for any arbitrary current distribution using the method of Green's functions. We use this to derive an analytic form for an hourglass magnetic field pattern created by electrical currents that are concentrated near (but not confined within) the equatorial plane of a cylindrical coordinate system. Our solution is not characterized by a cusp at the equatorial plane, as in previous solutions based on a current sheet. The pattern we derive provides a very good fit to hourglass magnetic field patterns emerging from three-dimensional numerical simulations of core formation, and can in principle be used for source-fitting of observed magnetic hourglass patterns.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2017

Conceptual magnet design study for fusion nuclear science facility [Magnet design study for fusion nuclear science facility]

The Fusion Nuclear Science Facility (FNSF) is a nuclear confinement device to provide the integrated fusion environment with fusion reactor components. The FNSF is the stepping stone to bridge the technical gaps of burning plasma and nuclear science between the International Thermal Nuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER), currently under construction in the south of France, and the demonstration power plant (DEMO). For the next-step fusion reactors, resistive copper magnet cannot be a sustainable solution due to large power consumption in coils of large size needed. Both Low temperature superconductor (LTS) and high temperature superconductor (HTS) are considered for the FNSF magnet design based on the state-of-the-art fusion superconducting magnet technology. Input parameters to FNSF magnet design include magnetic field of 7.5 T at plasma center with a major radius of 4.8 m and minor radius of 1.2 m, and a peak field of over 16 T on the TF coils. The high magnetic field can be achieved by using the high performance ternary Restack Rod Process (RRP) Nb3Sn strands for toroidal field (TF) magnets and a high aspect ratio rectangular cable-in-conduit conductor (CICC) design. The conductor design concept and TF coil winding pack composition and dimension are discussed based on the horizontal maintenance scheme. Neutron radiation limits for the LTS and HTS conductors and electrical insulation materials are reviewed based on the available materials previously tested. The material radiation limits for FNSF magnets are defined as part of the conceptual design studies. In conclusion, the global structural analysis of FNSF magnets based on the radial build was performed to validate feasibility for the plant layout toward horizontal maintenance and global structural integrity of its magnet system.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2024

Designing Spin‐Crossover Systems to Enhance Thermopower and Thermoelectric Figure‐of‐Merit in Paramagnetic Materials

Thermoelectric materials, capable of converting temperature gradients into electrical power, have been traditionally limited by a trade‐off between thermopower and electrical conductivity. This study introduces a novel, broadly applicable approach that enhances both the spin‐driven thermopower and the thermoelectric figure‐of‐merit (zT) without compromising electrical conductivity, using temperature‐driven spin crossover. Our approach, supported by both theoretical and experimental evidence, is demonstrated through a case study of chromium doped‐manganese telluride, but is not confined to this material and can be extended to other magnetic materials. By introducing dopants to create a high crystal field and exploiting the entropy changes associated with temperature‐driven spin crossover, we achieved a significant increase in thermopower, by approximately 136 μV K −1 , representing more than a 200% enhancement at elevated temperatures within the paramagnetic domain. Our exploration of the bipolar semiconducting nature of these materials reveals that suppressing bipolar magnon/paramagnon‐drag thermopower is key to understanding and utilizing spin crossover‐driven thermopower. These findings, validated by inelastic neutron scattering, X‐ray photoemission spectroscopy, thermal transport, and energy conversion measurements, shed light on crucial material design parameters. We provide a comprehensive framework that analyzes the interplay between spin entropy, hopping transport, and magnon/paramagnon lifetimes, paving the way for the development of high‐performance spin‐driven thermoelectric materials.

magnons↗
DOE OSTI2023

Anisotropic leaky-like perturbation with subwavelength gratings enables zero crosstalk

Abstract Electromagnetic coupling via an evanescent field or radiative wave is a primary characteristic of light, allowing optical signal/power transfer in a photonic circuit but limiting integration density. A leaky mode, which combines both evanescent field and radiative wave, causes stronger coupling and is thus considered not ideal for dense integration. Here we show that a leaky oscillation with anisotropic perturbation rather can achieve completely zero crosstalk realized by subwavelength grating (SWG) metamaterials. The oscillating fields in the SWGs enable coupling coefficients in each direction to counteract each other, resulting in completely zero crosstalk. We experimentally demonstrate such an extraordinarily low coupling between closely spaced identical leaky SWG waveguides, suppressing the crosstalk by ≈40 dB compared to conventional strip waveguides, corresponding to ≈100 times longer coupling length. This leaky-SWG suppresses the crosstalk of transverse–magnetic (TM) mode, which is challenging due to its low confinement, and marks a novel approach in electromagnetic coupling applicable to other spectral regimes and generic devices.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2013

Hydrogen transport diagnostics by atomic and molecular emission line profiles simultaneously measured for large helical device

We observe the Balmer-{alpha}, -{beta}, and -{gamma} lines of hydrogen atoms and Q branches of the Fulcher-{alpha} band of hydrogen molecules simultaneously with their polarization resolved for large helical device. From the fit including the line splits and the polarization dependences by the Zeeman effect, the emission locations, intensities, and the temperatures of the atoms and molecules are determined. The emission locations of the hydrogen atoms are determined outside but close to the last closed flux surface (LCFS). The results are consistent with a previous work (Phys. Plasmas 12, 042501 (2005)). On the other hand, the emission locations of the molecules are determined to be in the divertor legs, which is farer from those of the atoms. The kinetic energy of the atoms is 1 {approx} 20 eV, while the rotational temperature of molecules is {approx}0.04 eV. Additionally, substantial wings, which originate from high velocity atoms and are not reproduced by the conventional spectral analysis, are observed in the Balmer line profiles. We develop a one-dimensional model to simulate the transport of the atoms and molecules. The model reproduces the differences of the emission locations of the atoms and molecules when their initial temperatures are assumed to be 3 eV and 0.04 eV, respectively. From the model, the wings of the Balmer-{alpha} line is attributed to the high velocity atoms exist deep inside the LCFS, which are generated by the charge exchange collisions with hot protons there.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2013

Extreme ultra-violet movie camera for imaging microsecond time scale magnetic reconnection

An ultra-fast extreme ultra-violet (EUV) movie camera has been developed for imaging magnetic reconnection in the Caltech spheromak/astrophysical jet experiment. The camera consists of a broadband Mo:Si multilayer mirror, a fast decaying YAG:Ce scintillator, a visible light block, and a high-speed visible light CCD camera. The camera can capture EUV images as fast as 3.3 × 10{sup 6} frames per second with 0.5 cm spatial resolution. The spectral range is from 20 eV to 60 eV. EUV images reveal strong, transient, highly localized bursts of EUV radiation when magnetic reconnection occurs.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2014

Fast camera studies at an electron cyclotron resonance table plasma generator

A simple table-size ECR plasma generator operates in the ATOMKI without axial magnetic trap and without any particle extraction tool. Radial plasma confinement is ensured by a NdFeB hexapole. The table-top ECR is a simplified version of the 14 GHz ATOMKI-ECRIS. Plasma diagnostics experiments are planned to be performed at this device before installing the measurement setting at the “big” ECRIS. Recently, the plasma generator has been operated in pulsed RF mode in order to investigate the time evolution of the ECR plasma in two different ways. (1) The visible light radiation emitted by the plasma was investigated by the frames of a fast camera images with 1 ms temporal resolution. Since the visible light photographs are in strong correlation with the two-dimensional spatial distribution of the cold electron components of the plasma it can be important to understand better the transient processes just after the breakdown and just after the glow. (2) The time-resolved ion current on a specially shaped electrode was measured simultaneously in order to compare it with the visible light photographs. The response of the plasma was detected by changing some external setting parameters (gas pressure and microwave power) and was described in this paper.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2014

Effective Landé factor in a GaMnAs quantum dot; with the effects of sp-d exchange on a bound polaron

The effective g-factor of conduction (valence) band electron (hole) is obtained in the GaMnAs quantum dot. Magneto bound polaron in a GaMnAs/Ga{sub 0.6}Al{sub 0.4}As quantum dot is investigated with the inclusion of exchange interaction effects due to Mn alloy content and the geometrical confinement. The spin polaronic energy of the heavy hole exciton is studied with the spatial confinement using a mean field theory in the presence of magnetic field strength.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2015

Impact of E × B flow shear on turbulence and resulting power fall-off width in H-mode plasmas in experimental advanced superconducting tokamak

The power fall-off width in the H-mode scrape-off layer (SOL) in tokamaks shows a strong inverse dependence on the plasma current, which was noticed by both previous multi-machine scaling work [T. Eich et al., Nucl. Fusion 53, 093031 (2013)] and more recent work [L. Wang et al., Nucl. Fusion 54, 114002 (2014)] on the Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak. To understand the underlying physics, probe measurements of three H-mode discharges with different plasma currents have been studied in this work. The results suggest that a higher plasma current is accompanied by a stronger E×B shear and a shorter radial correlation length of turbulence in the SOL, thus resulting in a narrower power fall-off width. A simple model has also been applied to demonstrate the suppression effect of E×B shear on turbulence in the SOL and shows relatively good agreement with the experimental observations.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2016

Understanding the dynamics and energetics of magnetic reconnection in a laboratory plasma: Review of recent progress on selected fronts

Here, magnetic reconnection is a fundamental process at work in laboratory, space, and astrophysical plasmas, in which magnetic field lines change their topology and convert magnetic energy to plasma particles by acceleration and heating. One of the most important problems in reconnection research has been to understand why reconnection occurs so much faster than predicted by magnetohydrodynamics theory. Following the recent pedagogical review of this subject [Yamada et al., Rev. Mod. Phys. 82, 603 (2010)], this paper presents a review of more recent discoveries and findings in the research of fast magnetic reconnection in laboratory, space, and astrophysical plasmas. In spite of the huge difference in physical scales, we find remarkable commonality between the characteristics of the magnetic reconnection in laboratory and space plasmas. In this paper, we will focus especially on the energy flow, a key feature of the reconnection process. In particular, the experimental results on the energy conversion and partitioning in a laboratory reconnection layer [Yamada et al., Nat. Commun. 5, 4474 (2014)] are discussed and compared with quantitative estimates based on two-fluid analysis. In the Magnetic ReconnectionExperiment, we find that energy deposition to electrons is localized near the X-point and is mostly from the electric field component perpendicular to the magnetic field. The mechanisms of ion acceleration and heating are also identified, and a systematic and quantitative study on the inventory of converted energy within a reconnection layer with a well-defined but variable boundary. The measured energy partition in a reconnection region of similar effective size (L ≈ 3 ion skin depths) of the Earth's magneto-tail [Eastwood et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 110, 225001 (2013)] is notably consistent with our laboratory results. Finally, to study the global aspects of magnetic reconnection, we have carried out a laboratory experiment on the stability criteria for solar flare eruptions, including “storage and release” mechanisms of magnetic energy. We show that toroidalmagnetic flux generated by magnetic relaxation (reconnection) processes generates a new stabilizing force which prevents plasma eruption. This result has led us to discover a new stabilizing force for solar flares [Myers et al., Nature 528, 526 (2015)].

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2018

Experimental platform for investigations of high-intensity laser plasma interactions in the magnetic field of a pulsed power generator

An experimental platform for the studying of high-intensity laser plasma interactions in strong magnetic fields has been developed based on the 1 MA Zebra pulsed power generator coupled with the 50-TW Leopard laser. The Zebra generator produces 100-300 T longitudinal and transverse magnetic fields with different types of loads. The Leopard laser creates plasma at intensity of 1019 W/cm2 in the magnetic field of coil loads. Focusing and targeting systems are integrated in the vacuum chamber of the pulsed power generator and protected from the plasma debris and strong mechanical shock. The first experiments with plasma at laser intensity >2x1018 W/cm2 demonstrated collimation of the laser produced plasma in the axial magnetic field strength >100 T.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2020

Exact non-symmetric closed line vacuum magnetic fields in a topological torus

Non-symmetric vacuum magnetic fields with closed magnetic field lines are of interest in the construction of stellarator equilibria. Beyond the result of D. Lortz, Z. Angew Math. Phys. 21, 196 (1970), few results are available. This work presents a closed-form expression for a class of vacuum magnetic fields in a topological torus with closed field lines. We explicitly obtain the invariants of such a field. We finally show that a three-dimensional low beta magnetohydrodynamic equilibrium may be constructed in a topological torus, starting with these closed line vacuum magnetic fields.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2020

A comprehensive conductivity model for drift and micro-tearing modes

The parallel electrical conductivity is a crucial parameter in the study of the linear stability of drift-modes like the micro-tearing mode (MTM). The conductivity enters by closing the electromagnetic tearing layer equations. Recent progress in the understanding of the pedestal suggests that the MTM could play an important role in its structure and evolution. For this reason, we revisit and improve previous model conductivities. This parameter is generally derived from the linearized drift kinetic equation. In the past literature, it has been computed using either simplified collision operators or neglecting the spatial dependence away from the rational surface. Here, a fully consistent expression for the conductivity that would accurately model the pedestal has not been available. By applying a novel variational procedure and with the full Fokker Plank collision operator, including electron–electron collisions, we compute a closed expression for the parallel electrical conductivity in the form of a rational function.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2021

Improvement in the spatial resolution of heavy ion beam probe measurements through application of ion optics

A technique for more accurately modeling and improving the spatial resolution of heavy ion beam probe measurements is described. We use a set of particle trajectories to numerically determine the focusing properties of a complicated three-dimensional magnetic field and characterize those properties with a transfer matrix. We then modify the transfer matrix approach of traditional ion optics to include a parameter that describes the ionization location of the detected ions. The ion optics model calculated using this technique enables a more accurate description of the particle trajectories than previously feasible. The model also allows one to easily determine an initial beam focus that could be used during experimental operation to optimize the spatial resolution of measurements. The technique has been applied to the design of a heavy ion beam probe diagnostic for the Wendelstein 7-X stellarator and improvements in the modeled spatial resolution by a factor of about 2 over previous estimates are possible. As a result, the improved spatial resolution will enable measurements of plasma fluctuations with smaller wavelengths than would otherwise be possible.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
DOE OSTI2021

Fusion yield of plasma with velocity-space anisotropy at constant energy

Velocity-space anisotropy can significantly modify fusion reactivity. The nature and magnitude of this modification depends on the plasma temperature, as well as the details of how the anisotropy is introduced. For plasmas that are sufficiently cold compared to the peak of the fusion cross section, anisotropic distributions tend to have higher yields than isotropic distributions with the same thermal energy. At higher temperatures, it is instead isotropic distributions that have the highest yields. However, the details of this behavior depend on exactly how the distribution differs from an isotropic Maxwellian. Therefore, this paper describes the effects of anisotropy on fusion yield for the class of anisotropic distribution functions with the same energy distribution as a 3D isotropic Maxwellian and compares those results with the yields from bi-Maxwellian distributions. In many cases, especially for plasmas somewhat below reactor-regime temperatures, the effects of anisotropy can be substantial.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗