Integrated modelling of neon impact on JET H-mode core plasmas

Nuclear fusion reactor plasmas will need to exhaust a significant proportion of energy flux through radiative processes, to enable acceptable divertor loads. This can be obtained by line radiation from impurities, injected from the plasma edge. There are however limitations on the sustainable impurity content, since radiation from the core can lead to a deleterious electron heat sink. Moreover, dilution of the main ions reduces the available fuel. Simultaneously, impurities have an impact on the turbulent transport, both by dilution and by changes in the effective charge. Recent experiments at JET point towards an improvement in plasma confinement in neon seeded discharges with respect to purer equivalent plasmas. In this paper the impact of the impurities on the confinement is studied, isolating various effects. First-principle-based integrated modelling with the QuaLiKiz quasilinear turbulent transport model explains the improvement by a combination of higher pedestal temperature, increased rotation shear, and impurity-induced microturbulence stabilization. These results are optimistic with respect to the maximum impurity levels allowed in ITER and future reactors. Comparison between QuaLiKiz and higher fidelity gyrokinetics has exposed issues with QuaLiKiz impurity peaking predictions with rotation.

Automated summary

Nuclear fusion reactor plasmas need to release a significant amount of energy through radiation for acceptable divertor loads. Impurities injected from the plasma edge can provide this through line radiation. However, there are limitations on the sustainable impurity content due to deleterious effects on electron heat sink and fuel availability. Recent experiments at JET show that neon-seeded discharges improve plasma confinement compared to purer plasmas, and this improvement is explained by higher pedestal temperature, increased rotation shear, and impurity-induced microturbulence stabilization.