Overview of the TCV tokamak program: Scientific progress and facility upgrades

Stefano Coda*, J. Ahn, R. Albanese, Antti Hakola, E. Alessi, S. Allan, H. Anand, G. Anastassiou, Y. Andrèbe, C. Angioni, M. Ariola, M. Bernert, M. Beurskens, W. Bin, P. Blanchard, T.C. Blanken, J.A. Boedo, EUROfusion MST1 Team

*Corresponding author for this work

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticleScientificpeer-review

    63 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    The TCV tokamak is augmenting its unique historical capabilities (strong shaping, strong electron heating) with ion heating, additional electron heating compatible with high densities, and variable divertor geometry, in a multifaceted upgrade program designed to broaden its operational range without sacrificing its fundamental flexibility. The TCV program is rooted in a three-pronged approach aimed at ITER support, explorations towards DEMO, and fundamental research. A 1 MW, tangential neutral beam injector (NBI) was recently installed and promptly extended the TCV parameter range, with record ion temperatures and toroidal rotation velocities and measurable neutral-beam current drive. ITER-relevant scenario development has received particular attention, with strategies aimed at maximizing performance through optimized discharge trajectories to avoid MHD instabilities, such as peeling-ballooning and neoclassical tearing modes. Experiments on exhaust physics have focused particularly on detachment, a necessary step to a DEMO reactor, in a comprehensive set of conventional and advanced divertor concepts. The specific theoretical prediction of an enhanced radiation region between the two X-points in the low-field-side snowflake-minus configuration was experimentally confirmed. Fundamental investigations of the power decay length in the scrape-off layer (SOL) are progressing rapidly, again in widely varying configurations and in both D and He plasmas; in particular, the double decay length in L-mode limited plasmas was found to be replaced by a single length at high SOL resistivity. Experiments on disruption mitigation by massive gas injection and electron-cyclotron resonance heating (ECRH) have begun in earnest, in parallel with studies of runaway electron generation and control, in both stable and disruptive conditions; a quiescent runaway beam carrying the entire electrical current appears to develop in some cases. Developments in plasma control have benefited from progress in individual controller design and have evolved steadily towards controller integration, mostly within an environment supervised by a tokamak profile control simulator. TCV has demonstrated effective wall conditioning with ECRH in He in support of the preparations for JT-60SA operation.
    Original languageEnglish
    Article number102011
    JournalNuclear Fusion
    Volume57
    Issue number10
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 23 Jun 2017
    MoE publication typeA1 Journal article-refereed

    Funding

    This work has been carried out within the framework of the EUROfusion Consortium and has received funding from the Euratom Research and Training Programme 2014–2018 under grant agreement number 633053. This work was supported in part by the Swiss National Science Foundation.

    Keywords

    • overview
    • TCV
    • tokamak

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