Improving Plasma Heating Efficiency for Fusion Energy

[aaronwesslker]

Heating plasma to the extreme temperatures required for fusion reactions is a complex task that goes beyond simply adjusting a thermostat. One of the techniques being explored involves injecting electromagnetic waves into the plasma, similar to how microwaves heat food. However, generating one type of wave can sometimes lead to the unintended creation of another type of wave, known as slow modes, which does not contribute to heating the plasma, effectively wasting energy.

Scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy's Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) have made a breakthrough by using computer simulations to identify a technique that prevents the production of these slow modes, enhancing plasma heating and improving the efficiency of fusion reactions.

"This is the first time scientists have used 2D computer simulations to explore how to reduce slow modes," said Eun-Hwa Kim, a PPPL principal research physicist. "The results could lead to more efficient plasma heating and possibly an easier path to fusion energy."

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The research team, which included scientists from General Atomics who work with the DIII-D tokamak fusion facility, discovered that by positioning a metal grate called a Faraday screen at a slight five-degree slant relative to the antenna emitting the heating waves, the slow modes were suppressed. Slow modes are problematic because, unlike the helicon waves used for heating, they cannot penetrate the magnetic field lines confining the plasma to heat the core, where fusion reactions occur. Moreover, these slow modes are easily damped by the plasma itself, meaning energy directed toward them does not contribute to fusion.

Using the Petra-M computer code, the team simulated the production of both helicon waves and slow modes under conditions similar to those in the DIII-D tokamak. They conducted a series of virtual experiments to determine the factors that most affect slow mode production, such as the antenna's alignment, the Faraday screen's position, and the density of electrons near the antenna.

The simulations confirmed previous suggestions that when the Faraday screen was positioned at an angle of five degrees or less relative to the antenna, it prevented the slow modes from propagating into the plasma. However, the suppression of slow modes was highly sensitive to the screen's alignment. "We were surprised by how sensitive the development of slow modes was to the screen's orientation," said Masayuki Ono, PPPL principal research physicist.

This finding could guide the design of future fusion facilities, making their plasma heating more efficient and effective. Moving forward, the team plans to further refine their understanding of slow mode suppression by running simulations that account for additional plasma properties and antenna details.