arXiv subjects

A. Fasoli

Publications and source records attributed to A. Fasoli.

15 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2024

Measurement of the emittance of accelerated electron bunches at the AWAKE experiment

The vertical plane transverse emittance of accelerated electron bunches at the AWAKE experiment at CERN has been determined, using three different methods of data analysis. This is a proof-of-principle measurement using the existing AWAKE electron spectrometer to validate the measurement technique. Large values of the geometric emittance, compared to that of the injection beam, are observed ($\sim \SI{0.5}{\milli\metre\milli\radian}$ compared with $\sim \SI{0.08}{\milli\metre\milli\radian}$), which is in line with expectations of emittance growth arising from plasma density ramps and large injection beam bunch size. Future iterations of AWAKE are anticipated to operate in conditions where emittance growth is better controlled, and the effects of the imaging systems of the existing and future spectrometer designs on the ability to measure the emittance are discussed. Good performance of the instrument down to geometric emittances of approximately $\SI{1e-4}{\milli\metre\milli\radian}$ is required, which may be possible with improved electron optics and imaging.

physics.acc-ph↗

arXiv2024

Cross-Calibration and First Vertical ECE Measurement of Electron Energy Distribution in the TCV Tokamak

This paper describes the first Vertical Electron Cyclotron Emission (V-ECE) measurement of non-thermal electron distributions in the \textit{Tokamak \`a Configuration Variable}, TCV. These measurements were conducted in runaway electron scenarios and in the presence of Electron Cyclotron Current Drive. Measured intensities of linearly polarised X- and O-mode radiation from fast electrons allow the analysis of the energy distribution. The measurements were made possible through the creation of an operational regime for the diagnostic that is free of thermal background radiation, in relaxed electron density operations. This operational regime notably enables the cross-calibration of the diagnostic system, relying on thermal plasma measurements and modeling with the ray-tracing code SPECE.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2024

Isotope effects and Alfven eigenmode stability in JET H, D, T, DT, and He plasmas

While much about Alfven eigenmode (AE) stability has been explored in previous and current tokamaks, open questions remain for future burning plasma experiments, especially regarding exact stability threshold conditions and related isotope effects; the latter, of course, requiring good knowledge of the plasma ion composition. In the JET tokamak, eight in-vessel antennas actively excite stable AEs, from which their frequencies, toroidal mode numbers, and net damping rates are assessed. The effective ion mass can also be inferred using measurements of the plasma density and magnetic geometry. Thousands of AE stability measurements have been collected by the Alfven Eigenmode Active Diagnostic in hundreds of JET plasmas during the recent Hydrogen, Deuterium, Tritium, DT, and Helium-4 campaigns. In this novel AE stability database, spanning all four main ion species, damping is observed to decrease with increasing Hydrogenic mass, but increase for Helium, a trend consistent with radiative damping as the dominant damping mechanism. These data are important for confident predictions of AE stability in both non-nuclear (H/He) and nuclear (D/T) operations in future devices. In particular, if radiative damping plays a significant role in overall stability, some AEs could be more easily destabilized in D/T plasmas than their H/He reference pulses, even before considering fast ion and alpha particle drive. Active MHD spectroscopy is also employed on select HD, HT, and DT plasmas to infer the effective ion mass, thereby closing the loop on isotope analysis and demonstrating a complementary method to typical diagnosis of the isotope ratio.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2022

Simultaneous measurements of unstable and stable Alfvén Eigenmodes in JET

In this paper, we report the novel experimental observation of both unstable and stable Toroidicity-induced Alfvén Eigenmodes (TAEs) measured simultaneously in a JET tokamak plasma. The three-ion-heating scheme (D-DNBI-3He) is employed to accelerate deuterons to MeV energies, thereby destabilizing TAEs with toroidal mode numbers n = 3-5, each decreasing in mode amplitude. At the same time, the Alfvén Eigenmode Active Diagnostic resonantly excites a stable n = 6 TAE with total normalized damping rate $-γ/ω_0 \approx$ 1%-4%. Hybrid kinetic-MHD modeling with codes NOVA-K and MEGA both find eigenmodes with similar frequencies, mode structures, and radial locations as in experiment. NOVA-K demonstrates good agreement with the n = 3, 4, and 6 TAEs, matching the damping rate of the n = 6 mode within uncertainties and identifying radiative damping as the dominant contribution. Improved agreement is found with MEGA for all modes: the unstable n = 3-5 and stable n = 2, 6 modes, with the latter two stabilized by higher intrinsic damping and lower fast ion drive, respectively. While some discrepancies remain to be resolved, this unique validation effort gives us confidence in TAE stability predictions for future fusion devices.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2021

A novel measurement of marginal Alfvén Eigenmode stability during high power auxiliary heating in JET

The interaction of Alfvén Eigenmodes (AEs) and energetic particles is one of many important factors determining the success of future tokamaks. In JET, eight in-vessel antennas were installed to actively probe stable AEs with frequencies ranging 25-250 kHz and toroidal mode numbers $\vert n \vert < 20$. During the 2019-2020 deuterium campaign, almost 7500 resonances and their frequencies $f_0$, net damping rates $γ< 0$, and toroidal mode numbers were measured in almost 800 plasma discharges. From a statistical analysis of this database, continuum and radiative damping are inferred to increase with edge safety factor, edge magnetic shear, and when including non-ideal effects. Both stable AE observations and their associated damping rates are found to decrease with $\vert n \vert$. Active antenna excitation is also found to be ineffective in H-mode as opposed to L-mode; this is likely due to the increased edge density gradient's effect on accessibility and ELM-related noise's impact on mode identification. A novel measurement is reported of a marginally stable, edge-localized Ellipticity-induced AE probed by the antennas during high-power auxiliary heating (ICRH and NBI) up to 25 MW. NOVA-K kinetic-MHD simulations show good agreement with experimental measurements of $f_0$, $γ$, and $n$, indicating the dominance of continuum and electron Landau damping in this case. Similar experimental and computational studies are planned for the recent hydrogen and ongoing tritium campaigns, in preparation for the upcoming DT campaign.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2021

Analysis of Proton Bunch Parameters in the AWAKE Experiment

A precise characterization of the incoming proton bunch parameters is required to accurately simulate the self-modulation process in the Advanced Wakefield Experiment (AWAKE). This paper presents an analysis of the parameters of the incoming proton bunches used in the later stages of the AWAKE Run 1 data-taking period. The transverse structure of the bunch is observed at multiple positions along the beamline using scintillating or optical transition radiation screens. The parameters of a model that describes the bunch transverse dimensions and divergence are fitted to represent the observed data using Bayesian inference. The analysis is tested on simulated data and then applied to the experimental data.

physics.acc-ph↗

arXiv2021

Simulation and Experimental Study of Proton Bunch Self-Modulation in Plasma with Linear Density Gradients

We present numerical simulations and experimental results of the self-modulation of a long proton bunch in a plasma with linear density gradients along the beam path. Simulation results agree with the experimental results reported in arXiv:2007.14894v2: with negative gradients, the charge of the modulated bunch is lower than with positive gradients. In addition, the bunch modulation frequency varies with gradient. Simulation results show that dephasing of the wakefields with respect to the relativistic protons along the plasma is the main cause for the loss of charge. The study of the modulation frequency reveals details about the evolution of the self-modulation process along the plasma. In particular for negative gradients, the modulation frequency across time-resolved images of the bunch indicates the position along the plasma where protons leave the wakefields. Simulations and experimental results are in excellent agreement.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2020

Transition between Instability and Seeded Self-Modulation of a Relativistic Particle Bunch in Plasma

We use a relativistic ionization front to provide various initial transverse wakefield amplitudes for the self-modulation of a long proton bunch in plasma. We show experimentally that, with sufficient initial amplitude ($\ge(4.1\pm0.4)$ MV/m), the phase of the modulation along the bunch is reproducible from event to event, with 3 to 7% (of 2$π$) rms variations all along the bunch. The phase is not reproducible for lower initial amplitudes. We observe the transition between these two regimes. Phase reproducibility is essential for deterministic external injection of particles to be accelerated.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2020

Experimental studies of plasma-antenna coupling with the JET Alfven Eigenmode Active Diagnostic

This paper presents a dedicated study of plasma-antenna (PA) coupling with the Alfven Eigenmode Active Diagnostic (AEAD) in JET. Stable AEs and their resonant frequencies f, damping rates $γ$ < 0, and toroidal mode numbers n are measured for various PA separations and limiter versus X-point magnetic configurations. Two stable AEs are observed to be resonantly excited at distinct low and high frequencies in limiter plasmas. The values of f and n do not vary with PA separation. However, $\vertγ\vert$ increases with PA separation for the low-f, but not high-f, mode, yet this may be due to slightly different edge conditions. The high-f AE is detected throughout the transition from limiter to X-point configuration, though its damping rate increases; the low-f mode, on the other hand, becomes unidentifiable. The linear resistive MHD code CASTOR is used to simulate the frequency scan of an AEAD-like external antenna. For the limiter pulses, the high-f mode is determined to be an n = 0 GAE, while the low-f mode is likely an n = 2 TAE. During the transition from limiter to X-point configuration, CASTOR indicates that n = 1 and 2 EAEs are excited in the edge gap. These results extend previous experimental studies in JET and Alcator C-Mod; validate the computational work performed by Dvornova et al 2020 Phys. Plasmas 27 012507; and provide guidance for the optimization of PA coupling in upcoming JET energetic particle experiments, for which the AEAD will aim to identify the contribution of alpha particles to AE drive during the DT campaign.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2020

Experimental study of extended timescale dynamics of a plasma wakefield driven by a self-modulated proton bunch

Plasma wakefield dynamics over timescales up to 800 ps, approximately 100 plasma periods, are studied experimentally at the Advanced Wakefield Experiment (AWAKE). The development of the longitudinal wakefield amplitude driven by a self-modulated proton bunch is measured using the external injection of witness electrons that sample the fields. In simulation, resonant excitation of the wakefield causes plasma electron trajectory crossing, resulting in the development of a potential outside the plasma boundary as electrons are transversely ejected. Trends consistent with the presence of this potential are experimentally measured and their dependence on wakefield amplitude are studied via seed laser timing scans and electron injection delay scans.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2020

Proton beam defocusing in AWAKE: comparison of simulations and measurements

In 2017, AWAKE demonstrated the seeded self-modulation (SSM) of a 400 GeV proton beam from the Super Proton Synchrotron (SPS) at CERN. The angular distribution of the protons deflected due to SSM is a quantitative measure of the process, which agrees with simulations by the two-dimensional (axisymmetric) particle-in-cell code LCODE. Agreement is achieved for beam populations between $10^{11}$ and $3 \times 10^{11}$ particles, various plasma density gradients ($-20 ÷20\%$) and two plasma densities ($2\times 10^{14} \text{cm}^{-3}$ and $7 \times 10^{14} \text{cm}^{-3}$). The agreement is reached only in the case of a wide enough simulation box (at least five plasma wavelengths).

physics.acc-ph↗

arXiv2020

Results from the Alfvén Eigenmode Active Diagnostic during the 2019-2020 JET deuterium campaign

This paper presents results of extensive analysis of mode excitation observed during the operation of the Alfvén Eigenmode Active Diagnostic (AEAD) in the JET tokamak during the 2019-2020 deuterium campaign. Six of eight toroidally spaced antennas, each with independent power and phasing, were successful in actively exciting stable MHD modes in 479 plasmas. In total, 4768 magnetic resonances were detected with up to fourteen fast magnetic probes. In this work, we present the calculations of resonant frequencies $f_0$, damping rates $γ< 0$, and toroidal mode numbers $n$, spanning the parameter range $f_0 \approx$ 30 - 250 kHz, $-γ\approx$ 0 - 13 kHz, and $\vert n \vert \leq 30$. In general, good agreement is seen between the resonant and the calculated toroidal Alfvén Eigenmode frequencies, and between the toroidal mode numbers applied by the AEAD and estimated of the excited resonances. We note several trends in the database: the probability of resonance detection decreases with plasma current and external heating power; the normalized damping rate increases with edge safety factor but decreases with external heating. These results provide key information to prepare future experimental campaigns and to better understand the physics of excitation and damping of Alfvén Eigenmodes in the presence of alpha particles during the upcoming DT campaign, thereby extrapolating with confidence to future tokamaks.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2011

Nondiffusive suprathermal ion transport in simple magnetized toroidal plasmas

We investigate suprathermal ion dynamics in simple magnetized toroidal plasmas in the pres- ence of electrostatic turbulence driven by the ideal interchange instability. Turbulent fields from fluid simulations are used in the non-relativistic equation of ion motion to compute suprathermal tracer ion trajectories. Suprathermal ion dispersion starts with a brief ballistic phase, during which particles do not interact with the plasma, followed by a turbulence interaction phase. In this one simple system, we observe the entire spectrum of suprathermal ion dynamics, from subdiffusion to superdiffusion, depending on beam energy and turbulence amplitude. We estimate the duration of the ballistic phase and identify basic mechanisms during the interaction phase that determine the character of suprathermal ion dispersion upon the beam energy and turbulence fluctuation amplitude.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2010

Tilted potential induced coupling of localized states in a graphene nanoconstriction

We use the charged tip of a low temperature scanning probe microscope to perturb the transport through a graphene nanoconstriction. Maps of the conductance as a function of tip position display concentric halos, and by following the expansion of the halos with back-gate voltage we are able to identify an elongated domain over the nanoconstriction where they originate. Amplitude modulations of the transmission resonances are correlated with the gradient of the tip-induced potential and we analyze this in terms of modified coupling between localized states.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2009

Scanning gate microscopy of current-annealed single layer graphene

We have used scanning gate microscopy to explore the local conductivity of a current-annealed graphene flake. A map of the local neutrality point (NP) after annealing at low current density exhibits micron-sized inhomogeneities. Broadening of the local e-h transition is also correlated with the inhomogeneity of the NP. Annealing at higher current density reduces the NP inhomogeneity, but we still observe some asymmetry in the e-h conduction. We attribute this to a hole doped domain close to one of the metal contacts combined with underlying striations in the local NP.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗