Understanding Of Edge Plasmas In Magnetic Fusion Energy Devices

A limited overview is given of the theoretical understanding of edge plasmas in fusion devices. This plasma occupies the thin region between the hot core plasma and material walls in magnetically confinement configurations. The region is often formed by a change in magnetic topology from close magnetic field lines (i.e., the core region) and open field lines that contact material surfaces (i.e., the scrape-off layer [SOL]), with the most common example being magnetically diverted tokamaks. The physics of this region is determined by the interaction of plasma with neutral gas in the presence of plasma turbulence, with impurity radiation being an important component. Recent advances in modeling strong, intermittent micro-turbulent edge-plasma transport is given, and the closely coupled self-consistent evolution of the edge-plasma profiles in tokamaks. In addition, selected new results are given for the characterization of edge-plasmas behavior in the areas of edge-pedestal relaxation and SOL transport via Edge-Localize Modes (ELMs), impurity formation including dust, and magnetic field-line stochasticity in tokamaks.

This book reviews the current state of understanding concerning edge plasma, which bridges hot fusion plasma, with a temperature of roughly one million degrees Kelvin with plasma-facing materials, which have melting points of only a few thousand degrees Kelvin. In a fact, edge plasma is one of the keys to solution for harnessing fusion energy in magnetic fusion devices. The physics governing the processes at work in the edge plasma involves classical and anomalous transport of multispecies plasma, neutral gas dynamics, atomic physics effects, radiation transport, plasma-material interactions, and even the transport of plasma species within the plasma-facing materials. The book starts with simple physical models, then moves on to rigorous theoretical considerations and state-of-the-art simulation tools that are capable of capturing the most important features of the edge plasma phenomena. The authors compare the conclusions arising from the theoretical and computational analysis with the available experimental data. They also discuss the remaining gaps in their models and make projections for phenomena related to edge plasma in magnetic fusion reactors.

The Plasma Boundary of Magnetic Fusion Devices introduces the physics of the plasma boundary region, including plasma-surface interactions, with an emphasis on those occurring in magnetically confined fusion plasmas. The book covers plasma-surface interaction, Debye sheaths, sputtering, scrape-off layers, plasma impurities, recycling and control, 1D and 2D fluid and kinetic modeling of particle transport, plasma properties at the edge, diverter and limiter physics, and control of the plasma boundary. Divided into three parts, the book begins with Part 1, an introduction to the plasma boundary. The derivations are heuristic and worked problems help crystallize physical intuition, which is emphasized throughout. Part 2 provides an introduction to methods of modeling the plasma edge region and for interpreting computer code results. Part 3 presents a collection of essays on currently active research hot topics. With an extensive bibliography and index, this book is an invaluable first port-of-call for researchers interested in plasma-surface interactions.

Magnetic Fusion Energy: From Experiments to Power Plants is a timely exploration of the field, giving readers an understanding of the experiments that brought us to the threshold of the ITER era, as well as the physics and technology research needed to take us beyond ITER to commercial fusion power plants. With the start of ITER construction, the world’s magnetic fusion energy (MFE) enterprise has begun a new era. The ITER scientific and technical (S&T) basis is the result of research on many fusion plasma physics experiments over a period of decades. Besides ITER, the scope of fusion research must be broadened to create the S&T basis for practical fusion power plants, systems that will continuously convert the energy released from a burning plasma to usable electricity, operating for years with only occasional interruptions for scheduled maintenance. Provides researchers in academia and industry with an authoritative overview of the significant fusion energy experiments Considers the pathway towards future development of magnetic fusion energy power plants Contains experts contributions from editors and others who are well known in the field

Plasma Science and Engineering transforms fundamental scientific research into powerful societal applications, from materials processing and healthcare to forecasting space weather. Plasma Science: Enabling Technology, Sustainability, Security and Exploration discusses the importance of plasma research, identifies important grand challenges for the next decade, and makes recommendations on funding and workforce. This publication will help federal agencies, policymakers, and academic leadership understand the importance of plasma research and make informed decisions about plasma science funding, workforce, and research directions.

A technical assessment of the critical issues and problem areas in the field of plasma materials interactions (PMI) in magnetic fusion devices shows these problems to be central for near-term experiments, for intermediate-range reactor devices including D-T burning physics experiments, and for long-term reactor machines. Critical technical issues are ones central to understanding and successful operation of existing and near-term experiments/reactors or devices of great importance for the long run, i.e., ones which will require an extensive, long-term development effort and thus should receive attention now. Four subgroups were formed to assess the critical PMI issues along four major lines: (1) PMI and plasma confinement physics experiments; (2) plasma-edge modelling and theory; (3) surface physics; and (4) materials technology for in-vessel components and the first wall. The report which follows is divided into four major sections, one for each of these topics.

Magnetic Fusion Technology describes the technologies that are required for successful development of nuclear fusion power plants using strong magnetic fields. These technologies include: • magnet systems, • plasma heating systems, • control systems, • energy conversion systems, • advanced materials development, • vacuum systems, • cryogenic systems, • plasma diagnostics, • safety systems, and • power plant design studies. Magnetic Fusion Technology will be useful to students and to specialists working in energy research.

Usually called the "fourth state of matter," plasmas make up more than 99% of known material. In usual terminology, this term generally refers to partially or totally ionized gas and covers a large number of topics with very different characteristics and behaviors. Over the last few decades, the physics and engineering of plasmas was experiencing a renewed interest, essentially born of a series of important applications such as thin-layer deposition, surface treatment, isotopic separation, integrated circuit etchings, medicine, etc. Plasma Science

Magnetic confinement devices use strong magnetic fields to confine fusion grade plasmas for the purpose of producing fusion energy. Fully understanding plasma transport in these devices is crucial for the realization of a fusion reactor. The plasma transport is governed mostly by anomalous (turbulent) processes. Furthermore, the edge region is characterized by strong gradients in plasma profiles leading to coherent convecting structures known as plasma blobs that can dominant the far edge transport. This Thesis work is concerned with a characterization of plasma blob dynamics through a combination of theoretical investigations and 3D simulations of the collisional Braginskii equations using the code BOUT++. Another topic of this Thesis is the modeling of mean profile evolution due to fluctuating anomalous transport. The model is a formulated as a kinetic extension of fluid models and is implemented into the 2D2V gyrokinetic code COGENT.