Sign up to receive USBPO newsletter by email!
U.S. Burning Plasma Organization e-News
November 15, 2008 (Issue 26)
CONTENTS
-- Director's Corner by Jim Van Dam
-- Reports
-ITPA Integrated Operating Scenario (IOS) Task Group, by Chuck Kessel
-First ITPA Topical Group Meeting on Energetic Particles, by Raffi Nazikian and Don Spong
-Meeting of the ITPA Topical Group on MHD Stability, by A. Sen, E.J. Strait, and Y. Gribov
-- Upcoming 2008 and 2009 Burning Plasma-Related Events
Dear Burning Plasma Aficionados:
This newsletter provides a short update on U.S. Burning Plasma Organization activities. Comments on articles in the newsletter may be sent to the editor (R. Nazikian rnazikian@pppl.gov) or assistant editor (Emily Hooks ehooks@mail.utexas.edu).
Thank you for your interest in Burning Plasma research in the U.S.!
Director's Corner by J. Van Dam
2008 Fusion Energy Conference
Last month the worldwide fusion community gathered in Geneva, Switzerland, for the 22nd Fusion Energy Conference, sponsored by the International Atomic Energy Agency. There were approximately 800 participants, from 46 countries. The latest research results, mostly about magnetic confinement fusion but also concerning progress in inertial confinement fusion, were described through 541 talks and poster presentations. Carrying around the heavy Book of Abstracts (295 pages) certainly provided some arm muscle exercise. For the digitally inclined, this book, along with the Programme for the meeting and preprints of the papers, can be found at the conference web site (http://www.fec2008.ch/?page=Preprints/).
ITER was a major focus of the conference, beginning with an overview talk by ITER director-general Kaname Ikeda during the first session of the first day. Presentations on ITER activities, in fact, had their own unique designation (“IT”), alongside the other categories of magnetic confinement experiments (EX), magnetic confinement theory (TH), inertial fusion (IF), innovative concepts (IC), fusion technology (FT), and safety and environment (SE). The ITER category included 9 regular talks (with one additional rapporteured talk) as well as 48 posters, reflecting the large amount of work that has been carried out internationally during the past two years on ITER physics and technology in connection with the Design Review process. Tony Taylor, in his summary at the end of the meeting (one of five different summary talks), gave this assessment: “Substantial progress has been made in establishing operational regimes required for success of ITER; many exceed requirements for ITER…Scenario research has increased confidence in ITER’s success, but work still remains.”
Throughout the six days of this conference, even as our brains experienced research-result overload, historical nostalgia reigned. Here we were, meeting in the very same Palais des Nations building where the fusion pioneers had met for the momentous 2nd UN Conference on Peaceful Uses of Atomic Energy exactly 50 years before. In celebration, Dr. Jean Jacquinot, filling in on short notice for Prof. Francis Troyon (who had participated at the 1958 Conference), presented an excellent talk “The 50-Year History of Fusion Energy Research” on the morning of the first day. Then, on Wednesday evening, a special commemorative session was held with four speakers: Vladimir Smirnov (“Tokamak Foundation in Russia”), Dale Meade (“Highlights of 50 Years of Fusion Research”), Jiangang Li (“Magnetic Fusion Power Development for Global Warming Suppression”), and Kunioki Mima (“Inertial Fusion Power Development Path for Global Warming Suppression”). As is clear from the titles of these talks, the first two were primarily historical, while the latter two considered fusion energy in the context of present-day environmental concerns.
At this evening session, the IAEA distributed a retrospective booklet and companion CD, containing short historical essays, the texts of papers from the 1958 Conference, and a wealth of black-and-white photos from the days of fusion yesteryear. (This booklet is available for download at http://www-naweb.iaea.org/napc/physics/2ndgenconf/sets/Home.html.) From this booklet we learned some fascinating facts. For example, Time magazine, reporting about the 1958 Conference, characterized it as the “Monster Conference” and commented, “Besides the 5,000 scientists from 67 countries, and 900 accredited correspondents, came uncounted thousands of atomic businessmen, many with wives or camp followers.” An exhibit hall contained several actual experimental fusion facilities. Again, from Time magazine: “The U.S. is showing two real live nuclear reactors, and four real and working fusion devices, which flash like lightning when crew-cut young scientists throw the switches.”
Many of the “immortals” of the fusion science field who were participants at in the 1958 Conference are unfortunately no longer with us. But some still are. In particular, Prof. K. Razumova, who “as a young girl…[discussed]…negative voltage spikes on a loop voltage oscillogram…with Lyman Spitzer” at the 1958 Conference was also present at the 2008 Conference and gave a paper entitled “Tokamak Plasma Self-Organization and Possibility to Have the Peaked Density Profile in ITER.” In addition, Dr. Robert Aymar, who as a young experimentalist summarized the French pinch research program at the 1958 Conference and who subsequently became the second ITER director-general, gave a special Friday evening talk about the Large Hadron Collider at CERN (located next to Geneva), where he is currently serving as director-general.
During last month’s Fusion Energy Conference, USBPO leaders, along with US institutional program managers, were also busy participating in DOE-scheduled bilateral meetings with ITER partners Europe, Japan, Korea, and China. In addition, the USBPO had an informal discussion with our EFDA counterparts, and there was a luncheon get-together to talk about arrangements for the upcoming ITPA/IEA Joint Experiments Planning Meeting (to be hosted by MIT, 11-13 December).
Above is a photograph of Chuck Greenfield and yours truly, taken in the Assembly Hall, looking toward the front dais, with the United Nations seal on the wall behind.
To conclude this brief report about the semi-centennial 22nd Fusion Energy Conference, I think it would be helpful to remember the words of Academician Lev Artsimovich at the conclusion of the 1958 Conference: “We do not wish to be pessimistic in appraising the future of our work, yet we must not underestimate the difficulties which will have to be overcome before we learn to master thermonuclear fusion…A most important factor in ensuring success in these investigations is the continuation and further development of the international cooperation initiated by our conference…This [fusion] problem seems to have been created especially for the purpose of developing close cooperation between the scientists and engineers of various countries, working at this problem according to a common plan, and continuously exchanging the results of their calculations, experiments, and engineering developments. The combining of efforts on an international scale in the field of controlled fusion reactor investigation will undoubtedly shorten the time needed for us to arrive at our ultimate goal.”
The next Fusion Energy Conference will be held in Daejeon, Korea, beginning 10 October 2010. Just remember 10-10-10.
STAC-5 Meeting
The week immediately following the Fusion Energy Conference, a number of ITPA topical group meetings were held in nearby Lausanne and in Milan. Reports about these meetings will be published in eNews.
During that same week I attended the fifth meeting of the ITER Council’s Science and Technology Advisory Committee, held in Cadarache, France. The other US participants were Rob Goldston, Stan Milora, Erol Oktay, and Tony Taylor. During this three-day meeting, staff members of the ITER Organization presented updates about progress on addressing the issues that had been raised at the STAC-3 and STAC-4 meetings, about the proposed work plans for implementing ITER R&D during the next three years (e.g., through ITPA activities or ITER task agreements), about RAMI (which stands for Reliability, Availability, Maintainability, and Inspectability), and about the establishment of an official Test Blanket Module program. In addition, the ITER Organization appended several talks about “value engineering” (cost saving, in ordinary words), since they wanted to have feedback from the STAC concerning design changes that are being analyzed for this purpose. The Briscoe Panel, set up by the ITER Council to assess schedule and cost, has strongly recommended pursuing reductions in the cost scope. Along with design changes to save on cost, the ITER Organization is considering proposals such as transferring more work to the Domestic Agencies of the seven ITER Partners and replacing the Field Teams with Integrated Product Teams. ITER currently has a staff of 207 professionals and 69 support staff, and expects to grow to 285 professionals and 215 technical staff by the end of next year.
FESAC Meeting in November
The Fusion Energy Sciences Advisory Committee held a meeting in Gaithersburg, MD, during 6-7 November. Among the items on the agenda were: (1) a presentation given by Rejean Boivin about the USBPO Diagnostics White Paper, which contains recommendations for pursuing yet-uncredited diagnostic development needs for ITER; (2) a “tutorial” talk about plasma-materials interactions by Dennis Whyte, leader of the USBPO topical group on boundary physics; (3) a briefing about the recent NRC review of the DOE plan for U.S. participation in ITER (the so-called CRISPPP Report, cf. last month’s eNews); and (4) a talk about recent USBPO activities entitled “US Community Support during Preparations for ITER” by USBPO deputy director Chuck Greenfield, accompanying a related talk by Ned Sauthoff (USIPO) about the status of the ITER Project.
Burning Plasma Events at the APS-DPP Meeting
The 50th Annual Meeting of the APS Division of Plasma Physics is almost upon us (17-21 November, Dallas, TX). As a reminder, let me repeat from last month’s eNews two burning plasma-related events to occur during that meeting, both on Tuesday, 18 November:
- “Research in Support of ITER” contributed oral session GO3 (9:45 a.m.–12:33 p.m., Reunion A room): 14 ten-minute talks, including several from international groups.
- ITER Town Meeting (7:30–9:30 p.m., Landmark A ballroom): Talks by David Campbell (scientific status of ITER), Charlie Baker (programmatic status of ITER), and myself (US involvement in ITER R&D issues).
Incidentally, specifically for this semi-centennial DPP Meeting, the Physics of Plasmas journal has prepared a special anniversary web page that features 221 highly cited papers published in this journal and its predecessors during the past 50 years:
http://scitation.aip.org/journals/doc/PHPAEN-home/aps_dpp_50th_anniversary.jsp
Bound hardcopy versions will be available for purchase at the Meeting.
Announcments
The DIII-D Research Opportunities Forum (ROF) is scheduled for December 16-18, 2008 at General Atomics in San Diego. The ROF provides a venue for interested scientists to present proposals and ideas for possible research on the DIII-D National Fusion Facility as well as an opportunity to discuss critical issues for both fusion science and preparations for ITER. The Forum web site has been set up at http://fusion.gat.com/global/Rof2009. General information about the ROF process is posted there now.
The National Spherical Torus Experiment (NSTX) Research Forum for 2009 is scheduled for December 8-10, 2008 at the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory in Princeton, NJ USA. Team members or prospective collaborators are invited to attend or to participate remotely. The Research Forum is intended to provide team members the opportunity to present ideas for experiments to be conducted on NSTX in the forthcoming run and for theoretical work supporting NSTX. Both well-developed and new ideas in the early stages of development are welcomed. For further details, please see http://nstx-forum-2009.pppl.gov/. Proposals for experiments to be performed in 2009 can be submitted for discussion at the Research Forum may be submitted through the website.
The dates for the 2009 C-Mod Ideas Forum have not been finalized. The C-Mod forum will take place early in CY2009, prior to the start of the next experimental campaign.
Reports
Summary of the Meeting of the ITPA Integrated Operating Scenario (IOS) Task Group
Lausanne, Switzerland, October 20-22, 2008
Written by Chuck Kessel
The IOS topical group of the ITPA met in Lausanne after the IAEA meeting in October. Shunsuke Ide (JAEA) is the chair of the topical group, George Sips is the deputy chair, and Joe Snipes is the ITER Organization co-deputy chair.
Progress on existing joint experiments were reported by DIII-D, C-Mod, JET, and AUG. An overview of NSTX high performance plasmas was also given. In particular, the following progress has occurred: the hybrid scenario with reduced rotation in DIII-D; JET production of a high performance hybrid scenario; off-axis neutral beam current drive on a range of devices; and ITER-like discharges focused on breakdown, current ramp up, and ramp down.
A new organization of the joint experiments was proposed and is being finalized. The tentative topical breakdown is as follows:
IOS-1.1 ITER demonstration plasma with q95 = 3, betaN = 1.8, n/nGr = 0.85
IOS-1.2 Radiation seeding
IOS-2.1 ECRH breakdown assist at 20deg toroidal injection angle
IOS-2.2 Stable current ramp down from q95 = 3
IOS-3.1 Beta limit for AT with ITER recommended q profile
IOS-3.2 Accessibility requirements for Steady Sate operation
IOS-4.1 Accessibility requirements for the hybrid regime
IOS-4.2 rho* dependence of hybrid plasmas
IS-5.1 NBCD requirements and validation
IOS-5.2 ICRF local density requirements for coupling Fast Wave power
IOS-5.3 ECCD requirements
IOS-6 Real-time plasma control
Reports were given on full wave ICRF simulations for both ITER and C-Mod. Lower hybrid benchmark study between the LSC (1D-FP) and CQL3D (2D-FP) codes was presented. A 60% discrepancy needs to be resolved. A proposal was made to steer one of the midplane ECCD launchers in the counter Ip direction. A proposal was also made to examine the heating and current drive sources to support the ITER research plan and to benchmark NB calculations presented at the IAEA.
ITER modeling was presented on ignition studies. Simulations were shown indicating that a drop in the auxiliary power after the flattop burn condition is reached could lead to ignition. Flux saving studies in the current ramp up were presented. There were further discussions about the use of the TASK suite of codes for ITER modeling, TOPIC modeling of ITER, DINA-CH (CRPP) modeling of ITER, and a report by D. Batchelor concerning the US Fusion Simulation Projects. Progress on the resolution of various STAC issues was reported, and modeling of ITER like discharges on DIII-D and C-Mod was reported.
A joint session was held with the Energetic Particles topical group concerning alpha driven currents, DIII-D off-axis NBCD, and MAST off-axis NBCD experiments. Some areas were identified where the IOS group would benefit from guidance by the EP group. J. Snipes presented an ITER Work Plan covering the many areas where analysis and experiments are necessary.
A joint session was held with the MHD topical group during which presentations on plasma breakdown analysis and DINA time-dependent simulations of ITER were presented. A list was developed of desired information that the IOS group would like from the MHD group.
Modeling and experimental breakout and summary sessions were held to discuss issues in more detail. Efforts were made to prepare questions for the upcoming ITPA meeting in Naka (May 2009), which will be held in conjunction with the Transport topical group. Work began (and is continuing) on organizing the many ITER needs and prioritizing them to allow joint experiments to be established and to allow modeling work to remain focused on the most critical issues.
Summary of the First ITPA Topical Group Meeting on Energetic Particles
Written by R. Nazikian and D. Spong
The first ITPA topical group meeting on Energetic Particles (EP) was held at CRPP, Lausanne, Switzerland, on Oct. 20-22, 2008. The ITPA Energetic Particles topical group was newly created earlier this year. The leader of the topical group for the first three years is Sibylle Günter (IPP Garching), and the deputy leader is Kouji Shinohara (JAEA). Dr. Mukhovatov from ITER was present as the pro tem co-deputy chair.
The purpose of the meeting was to explore critical ITER needs and identify tasks for benchmarking and joint experiments on existing facilities. The meeting was very successful in identifying key benchmark activities that could be accomplished within the next six months.
Task descriptions of these key benchmark activities are given below:
1. Orbit losses due to ripple
The consensus of the topical group members was that the highest priority should go to evaluating and benchmarking codes used to predict orbit losses to the ITER walls, including the effect of the Test Blanket Modules (TBMs) and optimized toroidal field ripple. It was found that the TBM fields differed significantly according to whether the equilibrium field or the vacuum toroidal field was used to calculate the field perturbation caused by the ferromagnetic material in the TBMs. It was decided that the JAEA calculation, using the equilibrium fields, would be used as common input to all the codes for benchmarking purposes. With the same input, the two guiding center codes (ASCOT and OFMC) would be benchmarked in time for the next EP topical group meeting. In addition, a full orbit following code (SPIRAL) revealed significantly increased losses compared to the guiding center calculations. A separate benchmarking activity is now underway to compare the SPIRAL calculations with the CUEBIT code in order to verify the SPIRAL result. A further issue concerned the prediction of the ripple magnitude in the plasma including 3-D equilibrium effects with finite pressure. Two groups running the VMEC code for ITER with toroidal field ripple plus ferromagnetic inserts found either none or slight sensitivities of internal ripple levels to plasma beta. It was determined that the two groups should complete a benchmark exercise by the next ITPA meeting, based on a common vacuum dataset that includes TF ripple, ferromagnetic inserts, and TBMs.
2. Linear TAE stability calculations
The next highest priority is to benchmark linear stability calculations of Alfvén eigenmodes with the use of JET and DIII-D profile and fluctuation data for extrapolation to ITER. On JET, damping rate measurements of high-n Alfven modes will be used, together with accurate edge kinetic profiles, for benchmarking linear stability codes. On DIII-D, detailed fluctuation and equilibrium profile measurements of Reversed Shear Alfvén eigenmodes (RSAEs) will be used for code validation. Various codes will be applied to the benchmarking activity, such as NOVA-K, Castor-K, TAEFL, and LIGKA.
3. Nonlinear simulations of fast ion loss
Finally, nonlinear simulations and fast ion loss calculations were discussed, and benchmarking activities were proposed. Because of the much greater complexity of nonlinear simulations, it was decided as a first step to benchmark several codes against analytical solutions of linear toroidal Alfvén eigenmodes in a simple circular geometry. The codes to be used in this study include MEGA, HAGIS, HMGC, TAEFL, M3D, and NIMROD.
Summary of the Meeting of the ITPA Topical Group on MHD Stability, Lausanne, Switzerland, October 20-22, 2008
A. Sen, E.J. Strait, and Y. Gribov
The new ITPA Topical Group on MHD Stability held its first meeting at Lausanne, Switzerland on October 20-22, 2008. The agenda was designed to mainly cover topics related to the High Priority Research areas in MHD stability for ITER. These were principally disruptions (control, mitigation and loads), vertical stability, error field effects, NTMs, and RWM control.
Disruptions
Uncertainties in electromagnetic loads due to halo currents, disruptions and VDEs on the PFC and vacuum vessel have been identified as a major concern by STAC. Improvements in 2D (DINA, TSC) and 3D halo current models are needed to decrease the uncertainty and to improve the estimates for vertical and horizontal EM loads. Experimental data will be characterized through the next upgrade of the ITPA disruption database, which will focus on halo currents.
New diagnostics will help to meet the need for improved characterization of the generation, confinement, and loss of runaway electrons generated during disruptions and VDEs. Experiments and modeling (e.g. NIMROD) will be directed toward the physics basis for runaway suppression by gas injection, and by MHD activity or applied magnetic perturbations.
Current experiments on massive gas injection are still almost an order of magnitude away from achieving the Rosenbluth density for runaway electron suppression; other delivery methods such as pellet injection will also be explored. Modeling (NIMROD, SOLPS) and experiments will be aimed at establishing the requirements for ITER’s disruption mitigation system.
Vertical Stability
Efforts in the next year will focus on characterization of plasma disturbances such as ELMs, and extrapolation of the effects of noise and disturbances on ITER vertical controllability limits. ITER urgently needs these data in order to confirm that the present design of in-vessel coils for vertical stability control will be sufficient.
Error Field Effects
The planned use of ferromagnetic steel in ITER’s Test Blanket Modules will create non-axisymmetric magnetic fields that potentially could affect many aspects of tokamak operation, including equilibrium reconstruction. Modeling is needed to quantify these effects, and to design experiments that can simulate the TBM fields in existing devices.
Neoclassical Tearing Modes
Experiments and modeling will focus on confirmation of ECCD power requirements for stabilization, and launcher capability for the various operating scenarios. An immediate need is to determine the diagnostic requirements for island detection. Experiments in several devices indicate that the onset threshold in beta decreases with decreasing plasma rotation or rotational shear. Current models cannot fully explain these results: further theoretical work is needed.
Resistive Wall Modes
Modeling of RWM feedback control experiments is needed (VALEN, MARS-F and others) in order to estimate the current, voltage, and frequency requirements for RWM stabilization by the ELM control coils in ITER. As with vertical stability control, the analysis must account for effects of noise and plasma disturbances on the control system. These results have impact on the design of the ELM control coils and their power supplies, and also on the nearby PF coils.
Upcoming 2008 Burning Plasma-Related Events
Nov 17-21
50th APS-DPP
Dallas, TX
Nov 17-21
ITPA Diagnostics Topical Group Mtg
IPR, India
Nov 23-25
MHD Control Workshop
Austin, TX
Dec 9-12
18Th International Toki Conference
Toki-City, Japan
Dec 11-13
ITPA/IEA Joint Experiment Coordination Mtg
MIT, US
Upcoming 2009 Events
Jan 13-14
FESAC
Gaithersburg, MD
Jan 18-23
8th IEA International Wksp on SiC/SiC
Daytona Beach, FL
Mar 2-4
4th Workshop on Stochastic Fusion Plasmas
Julich, Germany
Mar 31-Apr 2/3
Joint Transport & Confinement and Integrated Operational Scenarios ITPA TG Mtg
Naka, Japan
Apr 6-8
ITER Export Control Working Group Mtg
Washington, DC
Apr 28-May1
Transport Task Force Workshop
San Diego, CA
May 2-5
Sherwood Theory Fusion Conference/APS April Mtg
Boulder, CO
May 11-14
12th International Wksp on Plasma-Facing Materials & Components for Fusion Applications
Julich, Germany
May 25-30
STAC, MAC CPWG
TBD
May 31-Jun 5
ICOPS-SOFE 2009 Conference
San Diego, CA
Jun 14-18
ANS Annual Mtg
Atlanta, GA
Jun 24-26
18th Conf on RF Power in Plasmas
Gent, Belgium
Jun 29-Jul 3
14th International Conference on Emerging Nuclear Energy Systems (ICENES-2009)
Ericeira, Portugal
Jul 12-16
17th International Conference on Nuclear Engineering (ICONE 17)
Brussels, Belgium
Sept 7-12
14th International Conf on Fusion Reactor Materials (ICFRM-14)
Sapporo, Japan
Sept 21-24
14th International Symp on Laser-Aided Plasma Diagnostics (LAPD-14)
Castelbrando, Treviso, Italy
Oct 11-16
9th International Symp on Fusion Nuclear Technology (ISFNT-9)
Dalian, China
Oct 24-29
9th International Conference of Tritium Science and Technology
Nara, Japan
Nov 2-6
51st APS-DPP Mtg
Atlanta, GA
Nov 8-12
ANS Annual Mtg
Washington, DC
Please submit your 2009 events to Emily Hooks at hooks@burningplasma.org.
For more Fusion Research-related events, visit the USBPO Upcoming Events page online at http://burningplasma.org/events.html.