Identication of trapped electron modes in frequency fluctuation spectra of fusion plasmas
Identification des modes d'électrons piégés dans les spectres fréquentiels de fluctuations des plasmas de Fusion
Résumé
This thesis shows that the analysis of frequency fluctuation spectra can provide an additional experimental indication of the dominant mode. Depending on the plasma scenario, fluctuation spectra can display different frequency components: Broadband spectra (Δf ∼ hundreds of kHz) which are always observed. Their amplitude is maximum at the zero frequency and they are attributed to turbulence. Coherent modes (Δf ∼ 1 kHz) which oscillate at a very well defined frequency. They can for example be due to geodesic acoustic or magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) modes; Quasi-Coherent (QC) modes (Δf ∼ tens of kHz) which oscillate at a rather well defined frequency but which are reminiscent of broadband fluctuations. The fluctuation study performed in the plasma core region shows that the fluctuation spectra in TEM-dominated regimes can be noticeably different from the ones in ITG-dominated regimes, as only TEM can induce QC modes. Such a finding has been achieved by comparing fluctuations measurements with simulations Measurements are made with a reflectometry diagnostic, a radar-like technique able to provide local indications of the density fluctuations occurring in the vicinity of the reflection layer. Frequency fluctuation spectra are inferred from a Fourier analysis of the reflectometry signal. First, the main properties of QC modes are characterized experimentally. Their normalized scale is estimated to k(perpendicular)ρi≤1, their amplitude is ballooned on the low field side mid-plane and they can be observed at many different radii. These indications are in agreement with what could be expected for ITG/TEM instabilities. Then reflectometry measurements are analyzed in Ohmic plasmas. QC modes are observed in the Linear Ohmic Confinement (LOC) regime dominated by TEM whereas only broadband spectra are seen in the Saturated Ohmic Confinement (SOC) regime dominated by ITG. Frequency spectra from nonlinear gyrokinetic simulations show that TEM induce a narrow frequency spectra responsible for the QC modes observed experimentally. This interpretation of the measured spectra is made via a synthetic reflectometer diagnostic using the gyrokinetic simulations as an input. The QC modes observed in the plasma core have then been renamed QC-TEM as a reference of their TEM origins. Thereafter, the first applications of the knowledge of QC-TEM properties are made in Ohmic plasmas of Tore Supra, TEXTOR, JET and ASDEX-Upgrade. The global disappearance of QC-TEM simultaneously with the LOC-SOC transition suggests that the stabilization of TEM plays an important role in the change of Ohmic regime. The disappearance of QC-TEM can also be correlated to intrinsic toroidal velocity bifurcation, which is not explained by neoclassical predictions. Another application using the QC signature of TEM has been done in Tore Supra ECRH plasmas. A previous study found an increase of the diffusion coefficient with the electron temperature gradient in a region predicted to be dominated by electron modes (r/a ≤ 0.2). Further out (r/a ≥ 0.2), the diffusion was independent of the electron temperature gradient in a region dominated by ion turbulence. Reflectometry measurements brought an additional indication by showing the presence of QC-TEM at r/a ≤ 0.2 and a broadband spectrum at r/a ≥ 0.2, supporting the previous investigations. Finally, transitions between electrostatic fluctuations (QC-TEM) and electromagnetic MHD modes have been observed. Spatial transitions from TEM toward MHD modes are reported in Ohmic ASDEX Upgrade plasmas and Tore Supra plasmas heated with Lower Hybrid (LH) waves. They may contribute to the sudden stabilization of TEM observed toward the plasma center. Temporal interplay between QC-TEM and MHD modes has also been observed with various heating schemes in Tore Supra plasmas (LH and electron cyclotron resonance heating), and in JET with neutral beam injection heating. This interplay which may have different drives (sawtooth, magnetic shear) indicates that QC-TEM and MHD are anti-correlated, QC-TEM fluctuations showing a delay of the order of ms compared to the MHD modes. These multiple observations suggest that spatial and temporal interactions between MHD and turbulent instabilities may be at play in the plasma core region.
La turbulence diminue le confinement du plasma et dégrade les performances des réacteurs à fusion. Différentes instabilités peuvent induire la turbulence comme les Ion Temperature Gradient (ITG) et les Trapped Electron Modes (TEM). Etant donné que les ITG et les TEM sont déstabilisés par différent gradients, ils peuvent tous les deux être stables, instables, ou donner un seul mode dominant. Il est important de pouvoir discriminer expérimentalement les régimes dominés par les TEM ou les ITG car le transport et la rotation qu’ils induisent peuvent être sensiblement différents. Des méthodes expérimentales existent pour cela, mais elles sont complexes et pas toujours réalisables. Cette thèse montre qu’une analyse des spectres fréquentiels de fluctuation peut fournir une indication expérimentale du mode dominant. En fonction du scénario du plasma, les spectres peuvent exhiber différentes composantes. Dans cette thèse il est montré que l’un d’eux appelé mode "Quasi-Cohérent" (QC) est induit par les TEM dans le plasma de cœur.Cette découverte a été faite dans des plasmas Ohmiques par des mesures de réflectométrie et des simulations gyrocinétiques combinées à un réflectomètre synthétique. Elles montrent que les TEM induisent des spectres fréquentiels étroits responsables des modes QC observés expérimentalement dans le cœur du plasma. Ces modes QC ont été renommés QC-TEM en référence à leur lien avec les TEM. Les premières applications de ces résultats ont ensuite été faites dans des plasmas Ohmiques et dans ceux chauffés par ondes à la fréquence cyclotronique électronique. De plus, des transitions ont été rapportées entre les QC-TEM et des modes MHD.