A power-balance model of the density limit in fusion plasmas: application to the L-mode tokamak. (26th September 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zanca, P.; Sattin, F.; Escande, D.F.
• Other Names: collab.
• Is Part Of: Nuclear fusion. Volume 59:Number 12(2019:Dec.)
• Publication Date: 2019-09-26
• Subjects: magnetohydrodynamics -- transport -- radiation; Nuclear fusion -- Periodicals; 621.48405
• DOI: 10.1088/1741-4326/ab3b31
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0029-5515

Abstract

Abstract: A power-balance model, with radiation losses from impurities and neutrals, gives a unified description of the density limit (DL) of the stellarator, the L-mode tokamak, and the reversed field pinch (RFP). The model predicts a Sudo-like scaling for the stellarator, a Greenwald-like scaling, , for the RFP and the ohmic tokamak, a mixed scaling, , for the additionally heated L-mode tokamak. In a previous paper (Zanca et al 2017 Nucl. Fusion 57 056010) the model was compared with ohmic tokamak, RFP and stellarator experiments. Here, we address the issue of the DL dependence on heating power in the L-mode tokamak. Experimental data from high-density disrupted L-mode discharges performed at JET, as well as in other machines, are taken as a term of comparison. The model fits the observed maximum densities better than the pure Greenwald limit.