Magnetic diagnostic suite of the C-2 field-reversed configuration experiment confinement vessel

Integrated diagnostic and data analysis system of the C-2W advanced beam-driven field-reversed configuration plasma experiment

The new C-2W experiment (also called Norman) at TAE Technologies, Inc. studies the evolution of field-reversed configuration (FRC) plasmas sustained by neutral beam injection. Data on the FRC plasma performance are provided by a comprehensive suite of diagnostics that includes over 700 magnetic sensors, four interferometer systems, multi-chord far-infrared polarimetry, two Thomson scattering systems, ten types of spectroscopic measurements, multiple fast imaging cameras with selectable atomic line filters, bolometry, reflectometry, neutral particle analyzers, and fusion product detectors. Most of these diagnostic systems are newly built using experience and data from the preceding C-2U experiment to guide the design process. A variety of commercial and custom acquisition electronics collect over 4000 raw signals from the C-2W diagnostics. These data are processed into physics results using a large-scale database of diagnostics metadata and analysis software, both built using open-source software tools.

Magnetic diagnostic suite of the C-2W field-reversed configuration experiment

A fundamental component of any magnetically confined fusion experiment is a firm understanding of the magnetic field. The increased complexity of the C-2W machine warrants an equally enhanced diagnostic capability. C-2W is outfitted with over 700 magnetic field probes of various types. They are both internal and external to the vacuum vessel. Inside, a linear array of innovative in-vacuum annular flux loop/B-dot combination probes provide information about plasma shape, size, pressure, energy, temperature, and trapped flux when coupled with established theoretical interpretations. A linear array of B-dot probes complement the azimuthally averaged measurements. A Mirnov array of 64 3D probes, with both low and high frequency resolution, detail plasma motion and MHD modal content via singular value decomposition analysis. Internal Rogowski probes measure axial currents flowing in the plasma jet. Outside, every feed-through for an internal probe has an external axial field probe. There are many external loops that measure the plasma formation dynamics and the total external magnetic flux. The external measurements are primarily used to characterize eddy currents in the vessel during a plasma shot. Details of these probes and the data derived from their signals are described.

Inference of field reversed configuration topology and dynamics during Alfvenic transients

Active control of field reversed configuration (FRC) devices requires a method to determine the flux surface geometry and dynamic properties of the plasma during both transient and steady-state conditions. The current tomography (CT) method uses Bayesian inference to determine the plasma current density distribution using both the information from magnetic measurements and a physics model in the prior. Here we show that, from the inferred current sources, the FRC topology and its axial stability properties are readily obtained. When Gaussian process priors are used and the forward model is linear, the CT solution involves non-iterative matrix operations and is then ideally suited for deterministic real-time applications. Because no equilibrium assumptions are used in this case, inference of plasma topology and dynamics up to Alfvenic frequencies then becomes possible. Inference results for the C-2U device exhibit self-consistency of motions and forces during Alfvenic transients, as well as good agreement with plasma imaging diagnostics.

It is important to understand the fast plasma dynamics in the operation of fusion plasma devices. Here the authors demonstrate the inference on the internal field reversed configuration magnetic topology and their occurrence during fast Alfvenic transient phenomena in C-2U device.

Diagnostic suite of the C-2U advanced beam-driven field-reversed configuration plasma experiment

The C-2U experiment at Tri Alpha Energy studies the evolution of field-reversed configuration (FRC) plasmas sustained by neutral beam injection. Data on the FRC plasma performance are provided by a comprehensive suite of diagnostics that includes magnetic sensors, interferometry, Thomson scattering, spectroscopy, bolometry, reflectometry, neutral particle analyzers, and fusion product detectors. While many of these diagnostic systems were inherited from the preceding experiment C-2, C-2U has a variety of new and upgraded diagnostic systems: multi-chord far-infrared polarimetry, multiple fast imaging cameras with selectable atomic line filters, proton detector arrays, and 100 channel bolometer units capable of observing multiple regions of the spectrum simultaneously. In addition, extensive ongoing work focuses on advanced methods of measuring separatrix shape and plasma current profile that will facilitate equilibrium reconstruction and active control of the FRC plasma.

Enhanced magnetic field probe array for improved excluded flux calculations on the C-2U advanced beam-driven field-reversed configuration plasma experiment

External flux conserving coils were installed onto the exterior of the C-2U [M. W. Binderbauer et al., Phys. Plasmas 22, 056110 (2015)] confinement vessel to increase the flux confinement time of the system. The 0.5 in. stainless steel vessel wall has a skin time of ∼5 ms. The addition of the external copper coils effectively increases this time to ∼7 ms. This led to better-confined/longer-lived field-reversed configuration (FRC) plasmas. The fringing fields generated by the external coils have the side effect of rendering external field measurements invalid. Such measurements were key to the previous method of excluded flux calculation [M. C. Thompson et al., Rev. Sci. Instrum. 83, 10D709 (2012)]. A new array of B-dot probes and Rogowski coils were installed to better determine the amount of flux leaked out of the system and ultimately provide a more robust measurement of plasma parameters related to pressure balance including the excluded flux radius. The B-dot probes are surface mountable chip inductors with inductance of 33 μH capable of measuring the DC magnetic field and transient field, due to resistive current decay in the wall/coils, when coupled with active integrators. The Rogowski coils measure the total change in current in each external coil (150 A/2 ms). Currents were also actively driven in the external coils. This renders the assumption of total flux conservation invalid which further complicates the analysis process. The ultimate solution to these issues and the record breaking resultant FRC lifetimes will be presented.

Overview of C-2 field-reversed configuration experiment plasma diagnostics

A comprehensive diagnostic suite for field-reversed configuration (FRC) plasmas has been developed and installed on the C-2 device at Tri Alpha Energy to investigate the dynamics of FRC formation as well as to understand key FRC physics properties, e.g., confinement and stability, throughout a discharge. C-2 is a unique, large compact-toroid merging device that produces FRC plasmas partially sustained for up to ∼5 ms by neutral-beam (NB) injection and end-on plasma-guns for stability control. Fundamental C-2 FRC properties are diagnosed by magnetics, interferometry, Thomson scattering, spectroscopy, bolometry, reflectometry, and NB-related fast-ion/neutral diagnostics. These diagnostics (totaling >50 systems) are essential to support the primary goal of developing a deep understanding of NB-driven FRCs.

Design and calibration of high-frequency magnetic probes for the SUNIST spherical tokamak

A new high-frequency magnetic diagnostic system is designed, installed, and calibrated in the Sino-United Spherical Tokamak (SUNIST) to investigate Alfvén waves (AWs). The system consists of a fixed toroidal array and a movable radial array of high-frequency magnetic probes (HFMPs) with 21 and 60 probes, respectively. Based on the method of vacuum enameled wire wound on ceramic bobbins, the fixed toroidal array is located as near as possible to the plasma and carefully shielded to reduce the attenuation of high-frequency magnetic field. Meanwhile, by using the technology of commercial chip inductors mounted on printed circuit boards, the movable radial array is inserted into a thin quartz tube that allows positioning along radial direction. A Helmholtz coil is utilized to calibrate the effective areas as well as the frequency response of each HFMP. The calibration results are consistent with the calculated results of an equivalent probe-and-cable circuit model. High-frequency magnetic signals related to AW are detected with these HFMPs. These HFMPs are expected to play a key role in analyzing Alfvén eigenmodes excited by AW antenna in the SUNIST.