Integration of full divertor detachment with improved core confinement for tokamak fusion plasmas

L. Wang, H. Q. Wang (), S. Ding, A. M. Garofalo, X. Z. Gong, D. Eldon, H. Y. Guo, A. W. Leonard, A. W. Hyatt, J. P. Qian, D. B. Weisberg, J. McClenaghan, M. E. Fenstermacher, C. J. Lasnier, J. G. Watkins, M. W. Shafer, G. S. Xu, J. Huang, Q. L. Ren, R. J. Buttery, D. A. Humphreys, D. M. Thomas, B. Zhang and J. B. Liu
Additional contact information
L. Wang: Chinese Academy of Sciences
H. Q. Wang: General Atomics
S. Ding: Chinese Academy of Sciences
A. M. Garofalo: General Atomics
X. Z. Gong: Chinese Academy of Sciences
D. Eldon: General Atomics
H. Y. Guo: General Atomics
A. W. Leonard: General Atomics
A. W. Hyatt: General Atomics
J. P. Qian: Chinese Academy of Sciences
D. B. Weisberg: General Atomics
J. McClenaghan: General Atomics
M. E. Fenstermacher: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
C. J. Lasnier: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
J. G. Watkins: Sandia National Laboratories
M. W. Shafer: Oak Ridge National Laboratory
G. S. Xu: Chinese Academy of Sciences
J. Huang: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Q. L. Ren: Chinese Academy of Sciences
R. J. Buttery: General Atomics
D. A. Humphreys: General Atomics
D. M. Thomas: General Atomics
B. Zhang: Chinese Academy of Sciences
J. B. Liu: Chinese Academy of Sciences

Nature Communications, 2021, vol. 12, issue 1, 1-9

Abstract: Abstract Divertor detachment offers a promising solution to the challenge of plasma-wall interactions for steady-state operation of fusion reactors. Here, we demonstrate the excellent compatibility of actively controlled full divertor detachment with a high-performance (βN ~ 3, H98 ~ 1.5) core plasma, using high-βp (poloidal beta, βp > 2) scenario characterized by a sustained core internal transport barrier (ITB) and a modest edge transport barrier (ETB) in DIII-D tokamak. The high-βp high-confinement scenario facilitates divertor detachment which, in turn, promotes the development of an even stronger ITB at large radius with a weaker ETB. This self-organized synergy between ITB and ETB, leads to a net gain in energy confinement, in contrast to the net confinement loss caused by divertor detachment in standard H-modes. These results show the potential of integrating excellent core plasma performance with an efficient divertor solution, an essential step towards steady-state operation of reactor-grade plasmas.

Date: 2021
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-21645-y

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