arXiv subjects

W. W. Heidbrink

Publications and source records attributed to W. W. Heidbrink.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2024

Charge-exchange measurements of high-energy fast ions in LHD using negative-ion neutral beam injection

A new sightline geometry for the fast-ion D-alpha (FIDA) diagnostic on the Large Helical Device (LHD) has been confirmed to measure signals for high-energy fast ions produced by negative-ion neutral beam injection. The newly installed sightline uses a 180 keV tangential negative-ion neutral beamline as the active source. Due to the small angle between the beamline and FIDA sightline, the relative velocity between fast ions and injected neutrals is small. This allows for high-energy fast ions just below the beam injection energy to produce measurable Doppler-shifted FIDA emission. Experiments were conducted at LHD in order to compare the new sightline, which views a high-energy negative-ion tangential beamline, and the old sightline, which views a low-energy perpendicular positive-ion neutral beamline. The measured FIDA signal is validated against predictions from the synthetic fast-ion diagnostic code FIDASIM with a distribution function modelled by the 5D transport code GNET. The results of the experiment confirm that reducing the viewing angle with a tangential active beam allows FIDA diagnostic to view high-energy fast ions with a sufficient signal-to-noise ratio.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2023

Low-frequency shear Alfvén waves at DIII-D: theoretical interpretation of experimental observations

The linear properties of the low-frequency shear Alfvén waves such as those associated with the beta-induced Alfvén eigenmodes (BAEs) and the low-frequency modes observed in reversed-magnetic-shear DIII-D discharges (W. Heidbrink, et al 2021 Nucl. Fusion 61 066031) are theoretically investigated and delineated based on the theoretical framework of the general fishbone-like dispersion relation (GFLDR). By adopting representative experimental equilibrium profiles, it is found that the low-frequency modes and BAEs are, respectively, the reactive-type and dissipative-type unstable modes with dominant Alfvénic polarization, thus the former being more precisely called low-frequency Alfvén modes (LFAMs). More specifically, due to different instability mechanisms, the maximal drive of BAEs occurs, in comparison to LFAMs, when the minimum of the safety factor ($q_{min}$) deviates from a rational number. Meanwhile, the BAE eigenfunction peaks at the radial position of the maximum energetic particle pressure gradient, resulting in a large deviation from the $q_{min}$ surface. Moreover, the ascending frequency spectrum patterns of the experimentally observed BAEs and LFAMs can be theoretically reproduced by varying $q_{min}$ and also be well interpreted based on the GFLDR. The present analysis illustrates the solid predictive capability of the GFLDR and its practical usefulness in enhancing the interpretative capability of both experimental and numerical simulation results.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2014

Fast particle-driven ion cyclotron emission (ICE) in tokamak plasmas and the case for an ICE diagnostic in ITER

Fast particle-driven waves in the ion cyclotron frequency range (ion cyclotron emission or ICE) have provided a valuable diagnostic of confined and escaping fast ions in many tokamaks. This is a passive, non-invasive diagnostic that would be compatible with the high radiation environment of deuterium-tritium plasmas in ITER, and could provide important information on fusion α-particles and beam ions in that device. In JET, ICE from confined fusion products scaled linearly with fusion reaction rate over six orders of magnitude and provided evidence that α-particle confinement was close to classical. In TFTR, ICE was observed from super-Alfvénic α-particles in the plasma edge. The intensity of beam-driven ICE in DIII-D is more strongly correlated with drops in neutron rate during fishbone excitation than signals from more direct beam ion loss diagnostics. In ASDEX Upgrade ICE is produced by both super-Alfvénic DD fusion products and sub-Alfvénic deuterium beam ions.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2013

Dual view FIDA measurements on MAST

A Fast Ion Deuterium Alpha (FIDA) spectrometer was installed on MAST to measure radially resolved information about the fast ion density and its distribution in energy and pitch angle. Toroidally and vertically-directed collection lenses are employed, to detect both passing and trapped particle dynamics, and reference views are installed to subtract the background. This background is found to contain a substantial amount of passive FIDA emission driven by edge neutrals, and to depend delicately on viewing geometry. Results are compared with theoretical expectations based on the codes NUBEAM (for fast ion distributions) and FIDASIM. Calibrating via the measured beam emission peaks, the toroidal FIDA signal profile agrees with classical simulations in MHD quiescent discharges where the neutron rate is also classical. Long-lived modes (LLM) and chirping modes decrease the core FIDA signal significantly, and the profile can be matched closely to simulations using anomalous diffusive transport; a spatially uniform diffusion coefficient is sufficient for chirping modes, while a core localized diffusion is better for a LLM. Analysis of a discharge with chirping mode activity shows a dramatic drop in the core FIDA signal and rapid increase in the edge passive signal at the onset of the burst indicating a very rapid redistribution towards the edge. Vertical viewing measurements show a discrepancy with simulations at higher Doppler shifts when the neutron rate is classical, which, combined with the fact that the toroidal signals agree, means that the difference must be occurring for pitch angles near the trapped-passing boundary. Further evidence of an anomalous transport mechanism for these particles is provided by the fact that an increase of beam power does not increase the higher energy vertical FIDA signals, while the toroidal signals do increase.

physics.plasm-ph↗