Runaway electrons in fusion plasmas
Research Project, 2015
– 2026
High-current tokamaks will be susceptible to conversion of the plasma current into a highly energetic runaway electron (RE) beam during plasma initiation and termination events. Such RE beams affect the plasma dynamics and might damage plasma facing components. The goal of this project is to develop methods for avoidance and suppression of REs. This is essential to ensure the safe and reliable operation of future fusion devices. Both plasma initiation and termination are characterized by dramatic transient changes, strong parameter variations (of e.g. density, temperature) and processes operating across a wide range of spatio-temporal scales and in nonlinear regimes. Controlling such behaviour requires theoretical models that capture the inherently multiscale nature of the phenomena, as well as efficient numerical tools and optimization frameworks. We will develop such a tool-set and use it to understand and control RE dynamics during tokamak plasma initiation and termination, including the effect of shattered pellet injection and instabilities. The modelling tools will be validated against experiments using synthetic radiation diagnostic tools, and will be employed to evaluate methods for avoidance or benign termination of RE beams.
Participants
Tünde-Maria Fülöp (contact)
Chalmers, Physics, Subatomic, High Energy and Plasma Physics
Ola Embréus
Chalmers, Physics, Subatomic, High Energy and Plasma Physics
Mathias Hoppe
Chalmers, Physics, Subatomic, High Energy and Plasma Physics
Funding
Swedish Research Council (VR)
Project ID: 2022-02862
Funding Chalmers participation during 2023–2026
Swedish Research Council (VR)
Project ID: 2018-03911
Funding Chalmers participation during 2018–2021
Swedish Research Council (VR)
Project ID: 2014-5510
Funding Chalmers participation during 2015–2018
Related Areas of Advance and Infrastructure
Sustainable development
Driving Forces
Energy
Areas of Advance
Basic sciences
Roots