The role of plasma-molecule interactions on power and particle balance during detachment on the TCV tokamak

Verhaegh, K. and Lipschultz, B. and Harrison, J.R. and Duval, B.P. and Fil, A. and Wensing, M. and Bowman, C. and Gahle, D.S. and Kukushkin, A. and Moulton, D. and Perek, A. and Pshenov, A. and Federici, F. and Février, O. and Myatra, O. and Smolders, A. and Theiler, C. and the TCV Team and the EUROfusion MST1 Team (2021) The role of plasma-molecule interactions on power and particle balance during detachment on the TCV tokamak. Nuclear Fusion, 61 (10). 106014. ISSN 0029-5515 (https://doi.org/10.1088/1741-4326/ac1dc5)

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Abstract

This paper shows experimental results from the TCV tokamak that indicate plasma-molecule interactions involving D2+ and possibly D- play an important role as sinks of energy (through hydrogenic radiation as well as dissociation) and particles (ions) during divertor detachment if low target temperatures (<3 eV) are achieved. Both molecular activated recombination (MAR) and ion source reduction due to a power limitation effect are shown to be important in reducing the ion target flux during a density ramp. In contrast, the electron-ion recombination (EIR) ion sink is too small to play an important role in reducing the ion target flux. MAR or EIR do not occur during N2 seeding induced detachment as the target temperatures are not sufficiently low. The impact of D2+ is shown to be underestimated in present (vibrationally unresolved) SOLPS-ITER simulations, which could result from an underestimated D2 + D+ → D2+ rate. The converged SOLPS-ITER simulations are post-processed with alternative reaction rates, resulting in considerable contributions of D2+ to particle and power losses as well as dissociation below the D2 dissociation area. Those findings are in quantitative agreement with the experimental results.

  • Item type:Article
    ID code:78303
    Dates:
    Date
    Event
    31 October 2021
    Published
    8 September 2021
    Published Online
    16 August 2021
    Accepted
    3 June 2021
    Submitted
    Subjects:Science > Physics > Plasma physics. Ionized gases
    Department:Faculty of Science > Physics
    Depositing user: Pure Administrator
    Date deposited:28 Oct 2021 10:33
    Last modified:09 Apr 2024 02:43
    URI:https://strathprints.strath.ac.uk/id/eprint/78303
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