On the evolution of profiles and fluctuations towards the L-mode density limit in ASDEX Upgrade

The maximum achievable density in a tokamak is restricted by the so-called density limit. In this contribution, we observe that a MARFE precedes the final chain of events leading to disruption in ramp up L-mode discharges, resulting in strong power dissipation and plasma cooling, which likely makes...

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Main Authors: G. Grenfell, M. Griener, M. Bernert, J. Adamek, D. Brida, M. Faitsch, P. Manz, B.Ph. van Milligen, U. Stroth, the ASDEX Upgrade Team, the EUROfusion Tokamak Exploitation Team
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: IOP Publishing 2025-01-01
Series:Nuclear Fusion
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1088/1741-4326/adeda1
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author G. Grenfell
M. Griener
M. Bernert
J. Adamek
D. Brida
M. Faitsch
P. Manz
B.Ph. van Milligen
U. Stroth
the ASDEX Upgrade Team
the EUROfusion Tokamak Exploitation Team
author_facet G. Grenfell
M. Griener
M. Bernert
J. Adamek
D. Brida
M. Faitsch
P. Manz
B.Ph. van Milligen
U. Stroth
the ASDEX Upgrade Team
the EUROfusion Tokamak Exploitation Team
author_sort G. Grenfell
collection DOAJ
description The maximum achievable density in a tokamak is restricted by the so-called density limit. In this contribution, we observe that a MARFE precedes the final chain of events leading to disruption in ramp up L-mode discharges, resulting in strong power dissipation and plasma cooling, which likely makes the plasma unstable to MHD modes. However, this phase is preceded by an initial cooling governed by enhanced radial transport due to higher fluctuations and a more favorable cross-phase for transport, which likely impacts the MARFE formation. The increase in radial turbulent transport near the separatrix is primarily observed following the detachment of the outer divertor. This occurs when an X-point radiator forms and the edge collisionality rises, indicating that the increased collisionality influences the turbulence characteristics in the plasma boundary. The causal connection between the events that precede the disruption is discussed.
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issn 0029-5515
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publishDate 2025-01-01
publisher IOP Publishing
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series Nuclear Fusion
spelling doaj-art-4e1bbe6ff1364b06ad366fcfc8df2d3b2025-08-20T02:40:58ZengIOP PublishingNuclear Fusion0029-55152025-01-0165808602310.1088/1741-4326/adeda1On the evolution of profiles and fluctuations towards the L-mode density limit in ASDEX UpgradeG. Grenfell0https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0107-5787M. Griener1https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2953-536XM. Bernert2https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1131-0867J. Adamek3https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8562-1233D. Brida4M. Faitsch5https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9809-7490P. Manz6https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5724-0174B.Ph. van Milligen7https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5344-6274U. Stroth8https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1104-2233the ASDEX Upgrade Teamthe EUROfusion Tokamak Exploitation TeamMax-Planck-Institut fur Plasmaphysik , Boltzmannstr. 2, Garching, GermanyMax-Planck-Institut fur Plasmaphysik , Boltzmannstr. 2, Garching, GermanyMax-Planck-Institut fur Plasmaphysik , Boltzmannstr. 2, Garching, GermanyInstitute of Plasma Physics of the CAS , Za Slovankou 3, 182 00 Prague 8, Czech RepublicMax-Planck-Institut fur Plasmaphysik , Boltzmannstr. 2, Garching, GermanyMax-Planck-Institut fur Plasmaphysik , Boltzmannstr. 2, Garching, GermanyInstitute of Physics, University of Greifswald , Felix-Hausdorff-Str. 6, 17489 Greifswald, GermanyNational Fusion Laboratory, CIEMAT , Avda. Complutense 40, 28040 Madrid, SpainMax-Planck-Institut fur Plasmaphysik , Boltzmannstr. 2, Garching, Germany; Physics Department, TUM School of Natural Sciences, Technical University of Munich , 85748 Garching, GermanyThe maximum achievable density in a tokamak is restricted by the so-called density limit. In this contribution, we observe that a MARFE precedes the final chain of events leading to disruption in ramp up L-mode discharges, resulting in strong power dissipation and plasma cooling, which likely makes the plasma unstable to MHD modes. However, this phase is preceded by an initial cooling governed by enhanced radial transport due to higher fluctuations and a more favorable cross-phase for transport, which likely impacts the MARFE formation. The increase in radial turbulent transport near the separatrix is primarily observed following the detachment of the outer divertor. This occurs when an X-point radiator forms and the edge collisionality rises, indicating that the increased collisionality influences the turbulence characteristics in the plasma boundary. The causal connection between the events that precede the disruption is discussed.https://doi.org/10.1088/1741-4326/adeda1tokamakdensity limitplasma turbulenceMARFELangmuir probeX-point radiator
spellingShingle G. Grenfell
M. Griener
M. Bernert
J. Adamek
D. Brida
M. Faitsch
P. Manz
B.Ph. van Milligen
U. Stroth
the ASDEX Upgrade Team
the EUROfusion Tokamak Exploitation Team
On the evolution of profiles and fluctuations towards the L-mode density limit in ASDEX Upgrade
Nuclear Fusion
tokamak
density limit
plasma turbulence
MARFE
Langmuir probe
X-point radiator
title On the evolution of profiles and fluctuations towards the L-mode density limit in ASDEX Upgrade
title_full On the evolution of profiles and fluctuations towards the L-mode density limit in ASDEX Upgrade
title_fullStr On the evolution of profiles and fluctuations towards the L-mode density limit in ASDEX Upgrade
title_full_unstemmed On the evolution of profiles and fluctuations towards the L-mode density limit in ASDEX Upgrade
title_short On the evolution of profiles and fluctuations towards the L-mode density limit in ASDEX Upgrade
title_sort on the evolution of profiles and fluctuations towards the l mode density limit in asdex upgrade
topic tokamak
density limit
plasma turbulence
MARFE
Langmuir probe
X-point radiator
url https://doi.org/10.1088/1741-4326/adeda1
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