Predictive integrated modelling of the hybrid and baseline scenarios of JT-60SA in view of the second operational phase

The integrated modelling of two plasma scenarios, hybrid and baseline, envisaged for the second operational phase (OP2) of the JT-60SA tokamak has been performed using the 1.5-dimensional JINTRAC suite of codes and the Bohm/gyro-Bohm (BgB) semi-empirical transport model. The decision to use the BgB...

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Main Authors: S. Gabriellini, V.K. Zotta, L. Garzotti, N. Aiba, J.-F. Artaud, G. Giruzzi, G. Pucella, C. Sozzi, D. Taylor, T. Wakatsuki, L. Burla, C. Leoni, R. Gatto, the JT-60SA integrated project 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/adcb4f
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Summary:The integrated modelling of two plasma scenarios, hybrid and baseline, envisaged for the second operational phase (OP2) of the JT-60SA tokamak has been performed using the 1.5-dimensional JINTRAC suite of codes and the Bohm/gyro-Bohm (BgB) semi-empirical transport model. The decision to use the BgB model is driven not only by its widespread application in predicting scenarios for JET and JT-60U similar to those anticipated for JT-60SA, but also by its low computational cost. Two versions of the hybrid scenario—3.7 MA/2.28 T and 2.7 MA/1.70 T with $P_{\mathrm{aux}} = 19~$ MW—were optimized with respect to the reference METIS simulation to maintain a safety factor with a low magnetic shear region, $q_{\mathrm{min}} \gt 1$ and low shine-through losses. The results suggest that a high- $\beta_{\mathrm{N}}$ ( ${\sim}3$ ) regime with a high non-inductive current fraction ( ${\sim}70\%$ ) could be achieved during the initial research phase at 2.7 MA/1.70 T and at a Greenwald density fraction $n_{\mathrm{e}}/n_{\mathrm{GW}} = 0.4$ . Hybrid-like q profiles are expected to be more easily obtained at higher Greenwald density fractions (0.6–0.8), while at lower densities, challenges such as hollow current density profiles and reversed q profiles were mitigated by adjusting the negative-neutral beam injection power and the injector configuration. The baseline scenario—4.6 MA/2.28 T with $P_{\mathrm{aux}} = 17.5$ MW—demonstrated potential for high confinementperformance, achieving values of $\beta_{\mathrm{N}} \sim 1.8$ , $H_{\mathrm{98}} \sim 1.0$ , and $W_{\mathrm{th}} \sim 10$ MJ. A scan of the temperature pedestal height and its effect on plasma performance underscores the need to develop a physics-based model capable of accurately predicting the H-mode pedestal.
ISSN:0029-5515