APS Logo

Full RMP-Driven ELM Suppression in High-Performance Double Null Plasmas on DIII-D Tokamak

POSTER

Abstract

We report the first demonstration of robust, full suppression of ELMs using RMPs in high-performance, near double-null configuration plasmas on DIII-D. Full ELM suppression is achieved across a broad range of dRsep (from 3 cm to 0.2 cm), including highly shaped equilibria with upper/lower triangularities δ~0.95/0.93 at dRsep=0.2 cm, while maintaining excellent confinement (H98 ≈ 1.5, βN > 2.5) and low pedestal collisionality (ν*e < 0.1). Remarkably, full ELM suppression is sustained over an exceptionally wide q95 window (4.1–5.3) and occurs without the density pump-out typically associated with RMPs in ITER-similar shape plasmas. Instead, confinement improves with elevated pedestal density (up to ~4×10¹⁹ m⁻³) and temperature (~2.5 keV). Microwave Scattering measurements reveal a unique turbulence signature during ELM suppression: notable increased magnetic fluctuations were observed accompanied by marginal growth in density fluctuations – opposite to conventional RMP ELM suppression. GPEC modeling attributes the efficacy to a >2x amplified plasma response at βN ~2.5, driven by high pedestal pressure and low ν*e, overcoming the typically reduced RMP effectiveness at high triangularity. ELITE stability analysis confirms the pedestal is located near the peeling boundary throughout. This breakthrough demonstrates the compatibility of RMP-based ELM suppression with reactor-relevant double null geometries and high-confinement scenarios, resolving a critical challenge for future fusion power plants.

Presenters

  • Qiming Hu

    Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL), Princeton University

Authors

  • Qiming Hu

    Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL), Princeton University

  • Jalal Butt

    Princeton University

  • Thomas H Osborne

    General Atomics

  • Theresa M Wilks

    Massachusetts Institute of Technology

  • SangKyeun Kim

    Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL)

  • Tyler B Cote

    General Atomics

  • Mihir D Pandya

    University of Wisconsin - Madison

  • Brian S Victor

    Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

  • Robert S Wilcox

    Oak Ridge National Laboratory

  • Morgan W Shafer

    Oak Ridge National Laboratory

  • Huiqian Wang

    General Atomics

  • Ruihai Tong

    University of California, Los Angeles

  • Jie Chen

    University of California, Los Angeles

  • Linzi Liu

    University of Texas at Austin, Southwestern Institute of Physics (SWIP)

  • Xiaodi Du

    General Atomics

  • S. Ding

    General Atomics, General Atomics, San Diego, CA, United States of America

  • Rongjie Hong

    University of California, Los Angeles

  • Ryan T Hood

    Sandia National Laboratories

  • Cedric K Tsui

    Sandia National Laboratories

  • Roberto Maurizio

    General Atomics

  • Nikolas C Logan

    Columbia University

  • Filippo Scotti

    Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

  • Laszlo Horvath

    Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL)

  • Alessandro Bortolon

    Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL)

  • Matthias Knolker

    General Atomics

  • SeongMoo Yang

    Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL)