First Plasma Commissioning and Operational Highlights from India's First Spherical Tokamak at IPR
A compact Spherical Tokamak(ST) is commissioned at Institute for Plasma Research (IPR) to explore low aspect ratio tokamak physics and technologies that complement to the existing high aspect ratio tokamaks namely ADITYA-U and SST-1 by enabling studies on non-inductive startup, current drive in over dense plasmas, and shaped plasma physics on a low cost platform. The device, India's first spherical tokamak has completed major mechanical, magnetic, and electrical integration, and the coil system has been successfully tested with series of integrated commissioning. First plasma experiments have been carried out with a modest Ohmic system assisted by a 2.45GHz microwave system, supported by a centralized control and data acquisition system. An initial diagnostic set comprising visible imaging, spectroscopy, magnetics, and radiation monitors required for machine operation has been installed. This paper presents the integrated commissioning experiences and first plasma experiments of the newly installed machine.