Simulation of the iter plasma disruption with the plasma accelerator “vika”

Abstract

The plasma accelerator “VIKA” at the Efremov Institute, St. Petersburg was used to simulate the thermal auench phase of ITER tokamak plasma disruption. The pulse duration τ = 0.36 ms, energy density at the target E¹ = 10 MJ/m² and direct ton energy E _i = 130 eV have been achieved. The spectroscopy methods and method of the laser beam (γ. = 0.63 μm) absorption were used to uwestigate the near-target (shielding layer) plasma parameters in experiments with graphite and tungsten targets. Electron plasma temperature of the near-target plasma T^e ≈ 10 eV in the central plasma regions and T^e = 3-5 eV in the external areas have been measured. The values of the near-target plasma density (n^e ≥ 10₁₈ cm⁻³) and their time-spatial distributions have been obtained. The experimental results are compared with the numerical simulation data, the conclusions are made on the adequacy of the implemented material tests, with the VIKA-facility used, to the expected ITER conditions. The brief review of recent publications on this subject is presented.

Key Words:

• ITER
• disruption simulation
• plasma accelerator
• shielding layer
• plasma diagnostics