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approvedfulton_abstract_sherwood2017.pdf2017-03-17 16:11:38Daniel Fulton

Abstracts

Author: Daniel Fulton
Requested Type: Pre-Selected Invited
Submitted: 2017-03-17 16:04:17

Co-authors: C. K. Lau, J. Bao, A. Kuley, Z. Lin, T. Tajima, and the GTC and TAE Teams

Contact Info:
Tri Alpha Energy, Inc.
19711 Pauling
Foothill Ranch, CA   92610
United States

Abstract Text:
Understanding particle and energy transport in field-reversed configuration (FRC) plasmas is a crucial step towards an FRC-based fusion reactor. Operational mastery of the advanced beam-driven FRC devices, C-2 and C-2U, at Tri Alpha Energy, Inc. (TAE), has achieved macroscopically stable plasmas[1], leading to experimental and theoretical investigation of transport scaling[2],[3],[4]. Electron energy confinement time in C-2U increased with electron temperature[1]. Similarly favorable scalings have been seen in spherical tokamaks[5],[6]. A primary objective of TAE’s upcoming C-2W device, scheduled to begin experiments in mid-2017, is to explore this scaling in an extended parameter regime.

Concurrently, substantial progress has been made on developing a turbulent transport model for high-β compact tori (CT). In this work, progress on this model development within two codes, the Gyrokinetic Toroidal Code (GTC) and A New Code (ANC), is reported. Recent features added to the GTC suite, including a general implementation of cross-separatrix geometry, are discussed. ANC is introduced as an electrostatic, nonlinear, particle-in-cell, microturbulence code, with modular gyro-kinetic (GK) or FK particles, tailored for FRC geometry. GK and FK verification benchmarks are presented, along with early validation of global linear and non-linear simulations against measurements in C-2U. Future development of GTC and ANC will be addressed, along with plans for code validation against both C-2W and NSTX-U.

[1] M. Binderbauer et al, Phys. Plasmas 22, 056110 (2015).
[2] L. Schmitz et al, Nat. Comm. 7 (2016).
[3] D. P. Fulton et al, Phys. Plasmas 23, 012509 (2016).
[4] D. P. Fulton et al, Phys. Plasmas 23, 056111 (2016).
[5] S. Kaye et al, Nuclear Fusion 53 (6), 63005 (2013).
[6] M. Valovič et al, Nuclear Fusion 51 (7), 73045 (2011).

Comments:
Ales Necas, also from Tri Alpha Energy, is also attending. If we both have posters, please place us adjacent to one another.