Realization of T e0 > 10 keV long pulse operation over 100 s on EAST

In 2021, EAST realized a steady-state long pulse with a duration over 100 s and a core electron temperature over 10 keV. This is an integrated operation that resolves several key issues, including active control of wall conditioning, long-lasting fully noninductive current and divertor heat/particle flux. The fully noninductive current is driven by pure radio frequency (RF) waves with a lower hybrid current drive power of 2.5 MW and electron cyclotron resonance heating of 1.4 MW. This is an excellent experimental platform on the timescale of hundreds of seconds for studying multiscale instabilities, electron-dominant transport and particle recycling (plasma-wall interactions) under weak collisionality.

Automated summary

In 2021, EAST achieved a steady-state long pulse of over 100 seconds with a core electron temperature of over 10 keV. This operation successfully addressed key issues such as active control of wall conditioning, long-duration fully noninductive current, and divertor heat/particle flux. The fully noninductive current was generated using pure radio frequency waves and electron cyclotron resonance heating. This experimental platform provides a valuable opportunity to study multiscale instabilities, electron-dominant transport, and plasma-wall interactions under weak collisionality on a timescale of hundreds of seconds.