Tokamak Theory

The tokamak theory division (TOK) is subdivided into six groups which focus upon different areas of physics relevant to ASDEX Upgrade and the fusion community as a whole.

MHD

The main topics of the MHD group are:

- linear MHD
- influence of rotation on the growth of instabilities
- influence of conducting walls on external modes
- MHD stability at the plama edge (ballooning/peeling modes)
- interpretation of mode activity observed on ASDEX Upgrade

- Neoclassical tearing modes
- modelling of mode growth and result on energy confinement
- methods of active control

- fast particle physics
- nonlinear interaction between fast particles and MHD modes
- gyro-kinetic description of fast particle contributions to MHD stability

- disruptions
- neural network for online disruption prediction
- disruption physics

- JET participation

Contact: Prof. S. Günter

Study of magnetised plasma turbulence of the fluid drift type by means of direct numerical simulation, for the study of anomalous transport in tokamaks.

Group members:

• Bruce Scott
• Tiago Tamissa Ribeiro
• Alexander Kendl

Contact:
Dr. B. Scott
Dr. Tiago Ribeiro

Edge Modelling

Some of the activities of the edge group are the:

(1) Development of general physics models of phenomena in the edge region of tokamak plasmas
(2) Development, maintenance and integration of the SOLPS (Scrape-Off Layer Plasma Simulation) suite of codes
(3) Development and implementation of an automatic procedure for the determination of edge transport coefficients from experimental measurements
(4) Coupling of Turbulence and Transport Codes

Contact:
Dr. D. Coster

Nachwuchsgruppe Dr. F. Jenko

Transport Analysis

The group studies neo-classical as well as anomalous transport, both developing the theory as well as comparing with the experiment. The developemnt of the neo-classical transport theory concentrates on those cases where the standard theory breaks down, such as large orbits near the axis and currents in the presence of MHD instabilities. The experimental activities are also supported through the numerical solution of the equations given by the standard theory. The theory development for the anomalous transport is concentrated on the linear stability properties of the ion temperature gradient and trapped electron modes. In the comparison with the experiment, the data is ordered using the picture of these instabilities and comparisons of the data with theory based models are performed. Finally, a statistical approach leading to scaling laws of the confinement is also pursued.

Contact: Dr. C. Angioni

(2) MHD equilibrium reconstruction (CLISTE)
(3) Neural network for early recognition of disruptions
(4) Structural analysis, transient states (ANSYS: fields, forces)

Contact: Dr. W. Schneider

(1) Heating and current drive

Recent work: Heating /Current Drive

Contact: Dr. E. Poli