Progress in HXR diagnostics at GOLEM and COMPASS tokamaks

Scintillation detectors are widely used for hard X-ray spectroscopy and allow us to investigate the dynamics of runaway electrons in tokamaks. This diagnostic tool proved to be able to provide information about the energy or the number of runaway electrons. Presently it has been used for runaway studies at the GOLEM and the COMPASS tokamaks. The set of scintillation detectors used at both tokamaks was significantly extended and improved. Besides NaI(Tl) (2 × 2 inch) scintillation detectors, YAP(Ce) and CeBr3 were employed. The data acquisition system was accordingly improved and the data from scintillation detectors is collected with appropriate sampling rate (≈300 MHz) and sufficient bandwidth (≈100 MHz) to allow a pulse analysis. Up to five detectors can currently simultaneously monitor hard X-ray radiation at the GOLEM. The same scintillation detectors were also installed during the runaway electron campaign at the COMPASS tokamak. The aim of this contribution is to report progress in diagnostics of HXR radiation induced by runaway electrons at the GOLEM and the COMPASS tokamaks. The data collected during the 12th runaway electron campaign (2020) at COMPASS shows that count rates during typical low-density runaway electron discharges are in a range of hundreds of kHz and detected photon energies go up to 10 MeV (measured outside the tokamak hall). Acquired data from experimental campaigns from both machines will be discussed.

Shattered Pellet Injection experiments at JET in support of the ITER Disruption Mitigation System design

A series of experiments have been executed at JET to assess the efficacy of the newly installed Shattered Pellet Injection (SPI) system in mitigating the effects of disruptions. Issues, important for the ITER disruption mitigation system, such as thermal load mitigation, avoidance of runaway electron formation, radiation asymmetries during thermal quench mitigation, electromagnetic load control and runaway electron energy dissipation have been addressed over a large parameter range. The efficiency of the mitigation has been examined for the various SPI injection strategies. The paper summarises the results from these JET SPI experiments and discusses their implications for the ITER disruption mitigation scheme.

Post-thermal-quench shattered pellet injection for runaway electron seed depletion in ITER

The possibility of using shattered pellet injection after the thermal quench of an ITER disruption in order to deplete Runaway Electron (RE) seeds before they can substantially avalanche is studied. Analytical and numerical estimates of the required injection rate for shards to be able to penetrate into the forming RE beam and stop REs are given. How much material could be assimilated before the Current Quench (CQ) becomes too short is also estimated. It appears that, if hydrogen pellets were used, the required number of pellets to be injected during the CQ would be prohibitive, at least considering the present design of the ITER Disruption Mitigation System (DMS). For neon or argon, the required number of pellets, although large, might be within reach of the ITER DMS, but the assimilated fraction would have to be very small in order not to shorten the CQ excessively. This study suggests that other injection schemes, based for example on small tungsten pellets coated with a low Z material, may be worth exploring as an option for an upgrade of the ITER DMS.

Different modes of runaway electron beams generated in high-pressure gases

This article presents the results of experimental studies of different modes of a runaway electron beam (RAEB) generation in high-pressure gases as well as X-rays caused by it. In particular, the mode with the greatest beam current amplitude, the one with two current pulses, that with the X-ray pulse duration of 100s ns, the mode in which a RAEB propagates in the direction opposite from an anode, and some others are described. The effect of the cathode design and material on the RAEB current amplitude and duration in atmospheric-pressure air is shown. When analyzing the most common modes, the features of the gap breakdown are used.

Numerical investigation of a high-pressure gas medium preionization by runaway electrons

A comparative simulation of the generation and acceleration of runaway electrons in the discharge gap during the initiation of the discharge by nanosecond and subnanosecond pulses is carried out. We used a numerical model based on the PIC-MCC method. Calculations were carried out for N2 6 atm pressure. Numerical simulation of a formation process of the electron avalanche initiated by an electron field-emitted from the top of the cathode microspike was carried out taking into account the motion of each electron in the avalanche. Characteristic runaway electron trajectories, runaway electron energy gained during the motion through the discharge gap, times required for runaway electrons to reach the anode were calculated. We compared our results with calculations using well-known differential equation of electron acceleration using braking force in Bethe approximation. We solved this equation also for braking force based on real (experimental) ionization cross section. The reasons for the discrepancy in the calculation results are discussed.

Effect of ultraviolet irradiation or diffuse discharge plasma on structure and surface electrical charge of micro-arc calcium phosphate coatings

The studies of the effect of ultraviolet (UV) irradiation and plasma of a runaway electron preionized diffuse discharge (REP DD) post-treatments on the surface structure and electrical charge of the micro-arc oxidation (MAO) coatings were performed. The UV irradiation and plasma treatment did not effect on the morphology, roughness and thickness of the MAO coatings. However, these post-treatments led to formation of the small fraction of the crystalline CaHPO4phase in the X-ray amorphous structure of the coatings. Moreover, the UV and REP DD plasma treatments increased the electrostatic potential (EP) negative values from –85 mV to –126 mV of the coatings in the following order: MAO < MAO/UV (for 5 min) < MAO/Plasma (with 10,000 pulses) < MAO/UV (for 20 min) < MAO/Plasma (with 80,000 pulses).

Runaway of electrons and initiation of explosive electron emission during pulse breakdown of high-pressure gases

We propose a scenario of the initiation of explosive electron emission on the boundary of the electrode and a high-pressure gas. According to this scenario, positive ions are formed due to the gas ionization by field-emission electrons and accumulated in the vicinity of protrusions of micron size at the cathode. The distance between the ion cloud and the emitting surface decreases with increasing pressure which results in a growth of the local field. As a consequence, an explosive growth of the emission current density occurs for a dense gas (the gas with the pressure of tens of atm). As a result, explosive-emission centers can be formed in dozens of ps. These centers give a start to plasma channels expanding towards the anode. Runaway electron flow generated near the channel heads ionizes the gas gap, causing its subnanosecond breakdown.