Modelling of runaway electron dynamics during argon-induced disruptions in ASDEX Upgrade and JET
Journal article, 2021

Disruptions in tokamak plasmas may lead to the generation of runaway electrons that have the potential to damage plasma-facing components. Improved understanding of the runaway generation process requires interpretative modelling of experiments. In this work we simulate eight discharges in the ASDEX Upgrade and JET tokamaks, where argon gas was injected to trigger the disruption. We use a fluid modelling framework with the capability to model the generation of runaway electrons through the hot-tail, Dreicer and avalanche mechanisms, as well as runaway electron losses. Using experimentally based initial values of plasma current and electron temperature and density, we can reproduce the plasma current evolution using realistic assumptions about temperature evolution and assimilation of the injected argon in the plasma. The assumptions and results are similar for the modelled discharges in ASDEX Upgrade and JET. For the modelled discharges in ASDEX Upgrade, where the initial temperature was comparatively high, we had to assume that a large fraction of the hot-tail runaway electrons were lost in order to reproduce the measured current evolution.

fluid modelling

JET

ASDEX Upgrade

runaway electrons

tokamaks

Author

Klara Insulander Björk

Chalmers, Physics, Subatomic, High Energy and Plasma Physics

Oskar Vallhagen

Chalmers, Physics, Subatomic, High Energy and Plasma Physics

Gergely Papp

Max Planck Society

C Reux

The French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA)

Ola Embréus

Chalmers, Physics, Subatomic, High Energy and Plasma Physics

Elisabeth Rachlew

Chalmers, Physics, Subatomic, High Energy and Plasma Physics

Tünde Fülöp

Chalmers, Physics, Subatomic, High Energy and Plasma Physics

Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion

0741-3335 (ISSN) 1361-6587 (eISSN)

Vol. 63 8 085021

Subject Categories

Other Engineering and Technologies not elsewhere specified

Other Materials Engineering

Fusion, Plasma and Space Physics

Areas of Advance

Materials Science

DOI

10.1088/1361-6587/ac07b5

More information

Latest update

7/28/2021