Clarification of plasma evolution on new electrode configuration

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K14685
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 14020:Nuclear fusion-related
• Research Institution: Kyushu University
• Principal Investigator: Kuroda Kengoh 九州大学, 応用力学研究所, 学術研究員 (40795035)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 球状トカマク / プラズマ立ち上げ / 核融合発電

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this project, we researched CHI plasma start-up on the largest spherical tokamak device in Japan, QUEST. In CHI, the current is injected into the plasma from a circular electrode in a vacuum vessel, and the plasma evolves and confinement flux configuration is formed. The first achievement was the theoretical elucidation of relation between the injector current and plasma evolution. As a second result, the prototype electrode was redesigned based on the elucidated theory and modified as a permanent electrode, and the expected performance was obtained.

Free Research Field

核融合プラズマ研究

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

将来の核融合発電炉に球状トカマク型の炉が適用出来れば建設コストの大幅な削減が見積もられ、その為の有効なプラズマ立ち上げ手法の研究がQUESTで実施されている。本件ではCHI手法の新たな理論的知見が得られ、QUESTへの導入実績は様々な装置への展開による更なる研究の発展を示唆する。今後QUESTでは新たに導入された本手法を活用してRF加熱などの他の手法と組み合わせることで様々な立ち上げシナリオの検討と評価が行われる。