Inhibition of parametric decay in heating microwave beams during fluctuations of the density profile in the edge island of Wendelstein 7-X

A. Tancetti*, S. K. Nielsen, J. Rasmussen, D. Moseev, T. Stange, S. Marsen, M. Vecséi, C. Killer, G. A. Wurden, T. Jensen, M. Stejner, G. Anda, D. Dunai, S. Zoletnik, K. Rahbarnia, C. Brandt, H. Thomsen, M. Hirsch, U. Hoefel, N. ChaudharyV. Winters, P. Kornejew, J. Harris, H. P. Laqua, the W7-X Team

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

48 Downloads (Orbit)

Abstract

Experimental evidence of parametric decay instability (PDI) is observed in the Wendelstein 7-X stellarator, when high-power microwave beams cross a stationary magnetic island at the plasma edge. Here, trapping and build-up of upper hybrid waves within a density bump (measured within the island by alkali beam emission spectroscopy) is responsible for the reduction of the instability power threshold below the maximum gyrotron power. In this paper, we provide the first experimental evidence of the connection between the trapping mechanism in the island density bump and excitation of PDI-related signals. We show correlations of periodic crashes in the PDI-related signals with quasi-continuous fluctuations at the plasma edge, which, additionally, cause a flattening of the density profile in the island. We demonstrate that flattening of the experimental density profiles can suppress the trapping mechanism and inhibit the low-threshold PDI. PDI on the edge island could alter the power deposition profile and reduce the efficiency of the electron cyclotron resonance heating system, simultaneously posing a serious threat to the optimal operation of microwave-based diagnostics and plasma-facing components.

Original languageEnglish
Article number015001
JournalPlasma Physics and Controlled Fusion
Volume65
Number of pages11
ISSN0741-3335
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2023

Keywords

  • Alkali beam emission spectroscopy
  • Electron cyclotron resonance heating
  • Island localized modes
  • Parametric decay instability
  • Upper hybrid resonance
  • Wendelstein 7-X stellarator

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Inhibition of parametric decay in heating microwave beams during fluctuations of the density profile in the edge island of Wendelstein 7-X'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this