High frequency instabilities induced by energetic ions inside magnetic islands

Abstract Various types of Alfvén Eigenmodes (AEs) have been destabilized by fast ions over a broad frequency range from ~80 kHz to ~700 kHz in a series of JET experiments in mixed D-3He plasmas heated with the three-ion ICRF scenario [M. Nocente et al., Nucl. Fusion 60, 124006 (2020)]. In this paper, we identify the radial localization of AEs using an X-mode reflectometer, a multiline interferometer and soft X-ray diagnostics. The analysis is focused on the most representative example of these measurements in JET pulse #95691, where two different types of Alfvén cascade (AC) eigenmodes were observed. These modes originate from the presence of a local minimum of the safety factor qmin. In addition to ACs with frequencies below the frequency of toroidal Alfvén eigenmodes (TAEs), ACs with frequencies above the TAE frequency were destabilized by energetic ions. Both low- (f ≈80-180 kHz) and high-frequency (f ≈ 330-450 kHz) ACs were localized in the central regions of the plasma. The characteristics of the high-frequency ACs are investigated in detail numerically using HELENA, CSCAS and MISHKA codes. The resonant conditions for the mode excitation are found to be determined by passing ions of rather high energy of several hundred keV and similar to those established in JT-60U with negative-ion-based NBI [M. Takechi et al., Phys. Plasmas 12, 082509 (2005)]. The computed radial mode structure is found to be consistent with the experimental measurements. In contrast to low-frequency ACs observed most often, the frequency of the high-frequency ACs decreases with time as the value of qmin decreases. This feature is in a qualitative agreement with the analytical model of the high-frequency ACs in [B.N. Breizman et al., Phys. Plasmas 10 3649 (2003)]. The high-frequency AC could be highly relevant for future ITER and fusion reactor plasmas dominated by ~ MeV energetic ions, including a significant population of passing fast ions.

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Suppression of magnetic islands by energetic ions in toroidal plasmas

Physics of Fluids B Plasma Physics ◽

10.1063/1.859452 ◽

1990 ◽

Vol 2 (8) ◽

pp. 1804-1814 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Chris C. Hegna ◽

A. Bhattacharjee

Keyword(s):

Magnetic Islands ◽

Energetic Ions ◽

Toroidal Plasmas

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The Microstructure of Steatite (Protoenstatite)

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100118102 ◽

1985 ◽

Vol 43 ◽

pp. 236-237

Author(s):

W. E. Lee ◽

A. H. Heuer

Keyword(s):

High Frequency ◽

Glass Ceramics ◽

Magnesium Silicate ◽

Beam Current ◽

Glassy Matrix ◽

Angle Of Incidence ◽

X Ray ◽

Mechanical And Electrical Properties ◽

Argon Ions ◽

High Temperature Polymorph

IntroductionTraditional steatite ceramics, made by firing (vitrifying) hydrous magnesium silicate, have long been used as insulators for high frequency applications due to their excellent mechanical and electrical properties. Early x-ray and optical analysis of steatites showed that they were composed largely of protoenstatite (MgSiO3) in a glassy matrix. Recent studies of enstatite-containing glass ceramics have revived interest in the polymorphism of enstatite. Three polymorphs exist, two with orthorhombic and one with monoclinic symmetry (ortho, proto and clino enstatite, respectively). Steatite ceramics are of particular interest a they contain the normally unstable high-temperature polymorph, protoenstatite.Experimental3mm diameter discs cut from steatite rods (∼10” long and 0.5” dia.) were ground, polished, dimpled, and ion-thinned to electron transparency using 6KV Argon ions at a beam current of 1 x 10-3 A and a 12° angle of incidence. The discs were coated with carbon prior to TEM examination to minimize charging effects.

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Simulations of high-resolution images of amorphous silicon films

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s042482010014419x ◽

1986 ◽

Vol 44 ◽

pp. 544-545

Author(s):

G. Y. Fan ◽

J. M. Cowley

Keyword(s):

Electron Microscope ◽

High Frequency ◽

Fourier Transformation ◽

Amorphous Materials ◽

Low Frequency ◽

Chromatic Aberration ◽

Structure Information ◽

Frequency Components ◽

High Resolution Images ◽

Spatial Frequency Spectrum

It is well known that the structure information on the specimen is not always faithfully transferred through the electron microscope. Firstly, the spatial frequency spectrum is modulated by the transfer function (TF) at the focal plane. Secondly, the spectrum suffers high frequency cut-off by the aperture (or effectively damping terms such as chromatic aberration). While these do not have essential effect on imaging crystal periodicity as long as the low order Bragg spots are inside the aperture, although the contrast may be reversed, they may change the appearance of images of amorphous materials completely. Because the spectrum of amorphous materials is continuous, modulation of it emphasizes some components while weakening others. Especially the cut-off of high frequency components, which contribute to amorphous image just as strongly as low frequency components can have a fundamental effect. This can be illustrated through computer simulation. Imaging of a whitenoise object with an electron microscope without TF limitation gives Fig. 1a, which is obtained by Fourier transformation of a constant amplitude combined with random phases generated by computer.

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