Multi-scale analysis of global electromagnetic instabilities in ITER pre-fusion-power operation plasmas

Global electromagnetic gyrokinetic simulations are performed with the particle-in-cell code ORB5 for an ITER pre-fusion-power-operation plasma scenario, with half-field (2.65 T) and half-current (7.5 MA). We report on a 'multi-scale' analysis of the discharge, considering eigenmodes and instabilities across three scale-lengths (n < 35, 45 < n < 70, n > 100). Although the scenario will nominally have neutral beam heating with particles injected with 1 MeV, Alfven eigenmodes are investigated in the absence of such source, and reversed shear, toroidal and elliptical Alfven eigenmodes are found with weak damping for moderately low toroidal mode numbers (10 <= n <= 35). At higher toroidal mode numbers (40 <= n <= 70), unstable Alfvenic modes have been observed close to rational surfaces and are labelled as beta-induced Alfven eigenmodes (BAEs)/Alfvenic ion temperature gradient modes, since their frequency is associated with the BAE gap and they are driven by the bulk plasma on the Alfvenic continuum. These modes are unstable in the absence of energetic particles (EPs), and adding a species of EPs (with an isotropic 1 MeV slowing down distribution) has negligible impact on their growth rate. At higher toroidal mode numbers (n < 200), low frequency microscale instabilities are observed.

Automated summary

Global electromagnetic gyrokinetic simulations are performed using the particle-in-cell code ORB5 for an ITER pre-fusion-power-operation plasma scenario. The analysis reveals the presence of eigenmodes and instabilities at different scale lengths, as well as the observation of unusual modes.