Overview of the EUROfusion Medium Size Tokamak scientific program

Under the EUROfusion MST1 program, coordinated experiments and related analysis and modelling tasks are carried out at three European medium sized tokamaks (ASDEX Upgrade, TCV and MAST-U), thus complementing the JET program for preparing a safe and efficient operation for ITER and DEMO. Work under MST1 benefits from cross-machine comparisons but also makes use of the unique capabilities of each device.

For the 2017/2018 campaign 24 topical areas were defined targeting the three main objectives:

Development towards an edge and wall compatible H-mode scenario with small or no ELMs

Characterization of conventional and alternative divertor configurations for ITER and DEMO

Development and characterization of methods to predict and avoid disruptions as well as control and mitigate runaway electrons.

This contribution will give an overview of the work done under MST1, highlighted by key results for each of the main objectives. These include suppression of ELMs by applying magnetic perturbations and assessing their influence on divertor heat loads, recent advances in accessing the ELM-free I-mode regime, detailed characterization of SOL transport and detachment in different divertor configurations, and development of new tools to control runaway electron beams.