Thomas Klinger

Bio: Thomas Klinger is an academic researcher from Max Planck Society. The author has contributed to research in topics: Stellarator & Plasma. The author has an hindex of 31, co-authored 166 publications receiving 2953 citations. Previous affiliations of Thomas Klinger include Princeton University & University of Greifswald.

Overview of first Wendelstein 7-X high-performance operation

Abstract: The optimized superconducting stellarator device Wendelstein 7-X (with major radius $R=5.5\,\mathrm{m}$, minor radius $a=0.5\,\mathrm{m}$, and $30\,\mathrm{m}^3$ plasma volume) restarted operation after the assembly of a graphite heat shield and 10 inertially cooled island divertor modules. This paper reports on the results from the first high-performance plasma operation. Glow discharge conditioning and ECRH conditioning discharges in helium turned out to be important for density and edge radiation control. Plasma densities of $1-4.5\cdot 10^{19}\,\mathrm{m}^{-3}$ with central electron temperatures $5-10\,\mathrm{keV}$ were routinely achieved with hydrogen gas fueling, frequently terminated by a radiative collapse. Plasma densities up to $1.4\cdot 10^{20}\,\mathrm{m}^{-3}$were reached with hydrogen pellet injection and helium gas fueling. Here, the ions are indirectly heated, and at a central density of $8\cdot 10^{19}\,\mathrm{m}^{-3}$ a temperature of $3.4\,\mathrm{keV}$ with $T_e/T_i=1$ was accomplished, which corresponds to $nT_i(0)\tau_E=6.4\cdot 10^{19}\,\mathrm{keVs}/\mathrm{m}^3$ with a peak diamagnetic energy of $1.1\,\mathrm{MJ}$. The discharge behaviour has further improved with boronization of the wall. After boronization, the oxygen impurity content was reduced by a factor of 10, the carbon impurity content by a factor of 5. The reduced (edge) plasma radiation level gives routinely access to higher densities without radiation collapse, e.g. well above $1\cdot 10^{20}\,\mathrm{m}^{-2}$ line integrated density and $T_e=T_i=2\,\mathrm{keV}$ central temperatures at moderate ECRH power. Both X2 and O2 mode ECRH schemes were successfully applied. Core turbulence was measured with a phase contrast imaging diagnostic and suppression of turbulence during pellet injection was observed.

Major results from the first plasma campaign of the Wendelstein 7-X stellarator

Abstract: After completing the main construction phase of Wendelstein 7-X (W7-X) and successfully commissioning the device, first plasma operation started at the end of 2015. Integral commissioning of plasma start-up and operation using electron cyclotron resonance heating (ECRH) and an extensive set of plasma diagnostics have been completed, allowing initial physics studies during the first operational campaign. Both in helium and hydrogen, plasma breakdown was easily achieved. Gaining experience with plasma vessel conditioning, discharge lengths could be extended gradually. Eventually, discharges lasted up to 6 s, reaching an injected energy of 4 MJ, which is twice the limit originally agreed for the limiter configuration employed during the first operational campaign. At power levels of 4 MW central electron densities reached 3 x 10(19) m(-3), central electron temperatures reached values of 7 keV and ion temperatures reached just above 2 keV. Important physics studies during this first operational phase include a first assessment of power balance and energy confinement, ECRH power deposition experiments, 2nd harmonic O-mode ECRH using multi-pass absorption, and current drive experiments using electron cyclotron current drive. As in many plasma discharges the electron temperature exceeds the ion temperature significantly, these plasmas are governed by core electron root confinement showing a strong positive electric field in the plasma centre.

Magnetic configuration effects on the Wendelstein 7-X stellarator

Abstract: The two leading concepts for confining high-temperature fusion plasmas are the tokamak and the stellarator. Tokamaks are rotationally symmetric and use a large plasma current to achieve confinement, whereas stellarators are non-axisymmetric and employ three-dimensionally shaped magnetic field coils to twist the field and confine the plasma. As a result, the magnetic field of a stellarator needs to be carefully designed to minimize the collisional transport arising from poorly confined particle orbits, which would otherwise cause excessive power losses at high plasma temperatures. In addition, this type of transport leads to the appearance of a net toroidal plasma current, the so-called bootstrap current. Here, we analyse results from the first experimental campaign of the Wendelstein 7-X stellarator, showing that its magnetic-field design allows good control of bootstrap currents and collisional transport. The energy confinement time is among the best ever achieved in stellarators, both in absolute figures (τE > 100 ms) and relative to the stellarator confinement scaling. The bootstrap current responds as predicted to changes in the magnetic mirror ratio. These initial experiments confirm several theoretically predicted properties of Wendelstein 7-X plasmas, and already indicate consistency with optimization measures. Results from the first experimental campaign of the Wendelstein 7-X stellarator demonstrate that its magnetic-field design grants good control of parasitic plasma currents, leading to long energy confinement times.

Self-similarity of the plasma edge fluctuations

Abstract: The rescaled range analysis techniques are used to investigate long-range dependence in plasma edge fluctuations [Mandelbrot and Wallis, Water Resources Res. 4, 909 (1969)]. This technology has been applied to data from several confinement devices such as tokamaks, stellarators, and reversed-field pinch. The results reveal the self-similar character of the electrostatic fluctuations at the plasma edge with self-similarity parameters ranging from 0.62 to 0.72. These results show that the tail of the autocorrelation function decays as a power law for time lags longer than the decorrelation time and as long as times of the order of the confinement time. In cold plasma devices (Te<1 eV at the core), there is no evidence of algebraic tails in the autocorrelation function. Some other characteristic features of the autocorrelation function and power spectrum have been investigated. All of these features are consistent with plasma transport as characterized by self-organized criticality.

Performance and properties of the first plasmas of Wendelstein 7-X

Abstract: The optimized, superconducting stellarator Wendelstein 7-X went into operation and delivered first measurement data after 15 years of construction and one year commissioning. Errors in the magnet assembly were confirmend to be small. Plasma operation was started with 5 MW electron cyclotron resonance heating (ECRH) power and five inboard limiters. Core plasma values of keV, keV at line-integrated densities were achieved, exceeding the original expectations by about a factor of two. Indications for a core-electron-root were found. The energy confinement times are in line with the international stellarator scaling, despite unfavourable wall conditions, i.e. large areas of metal surfaces and particle sources from the limiter close to the plasma volume. Well controlled shorter hydrogen discharges at higher power (4 MW ECRH power for 1 s) and longer discharges at lower power (0.7 MW ECRH power for 6 s) could be routinely established after proper wall conditioning. The fairly large set of diagnostic systems running in the end of the 10 weeks operation campaign provided first insights into expected and unexpected physics of optimized stellarators.

Zonal flows in plasma—a review

Abstract: A comprehensive review of zonal flow phenomena in plasmas is presented. While the emphasis is on zonal flows in laboratory plasmas, planetary zonal flows are discussed as well. The review presents the status of theory, numerical simulation and experiments relevant to zonal flows. The emphasis is on developing an integrated understanding of the dynamics of drift wave–zonal flow turbulence by combining detailed studies of the generation of zonal flows by drift waves, the back-interaction of zonal flows on the drift waves, and the various feedback loops by which the system regulates and organizes itself. The implications of zonal flow phenomena for confinement in, and the phenomena of fusion devices are discussed. Special attention is given to the comparison of experiment with theory and to identifying directions for progress in future research.

Particle-in-Cell Charged Particle Simulations, plus Monte Carlo Collisions with Neutral Atoms, PIC-MCC

Abstract: Many-particle charged-particle plasma simulations using spatial meshes for the electromagnetic field solutions, particle-in-cell (PIC) merged with Monte Carlo collision (MCC) calculations, are coming into wide use for application to partially ionized gases. The author emphasizes the development of PIC computer experiments since the 1950s starting with one-dimensional (1-D) charged-sheet models, the addition of the mesh, and fast direct Poisson equation solvers for 2-D and 3-D. Details are provided for adding the collisions between the charged particles and neutral atoms. The result is many-particle simulations with many of the features met in low-temperature collision plasmas; for example, with applications to plasma-assisted materials processing, but also related to warmer plasmas at the edges of magnetized fusion plasmas. >

Reviews of Modern Physics

Abstract: Associate DIETRICH BELITZ, University of Oregon Editors: Condensed Matter Physics (Theoretical) J. IGNACIO CIRAC, Max-Planck-Institut für Quantenoptik Quantum Information RAYMOND E. GOLDSTEIN, University of Cambridge Biological Physics ARTHUR F. HEBARD, University of Florida Condensed Matter Physics (Experimental) RANDALL D. KAMIEN, University of Pennsylvania Soft Condensed Matter DANIEL KLEPPNER, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics (Experimental) PAUL G. LANGACKER, Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton University Particle Physics (Theoretical) VERA LÜTH, Stanford University Particle Physics (Experimental) DAVID D. MEYERHOFER, University of Rochester Physics of Plasmas and Matter at High-Energy Density WITOLD NAZAREWICZ, University of Tennessee, Oak Ridge National Laboratory Nuclear Physics JOHN H. SCHWARZ, California Institute of Technology Mathematical Physics FRIEDRICH-KARL THIELEMANN, Universität Basel Astrophysics Senior Assistant Editor: DEBBIE BRODBAR, APS Editorial Office American Physical Society

Physics of plasmas

Abstract: 1 The Equations of Gas Dynamics 2 Magnetoplasma Dynamics 3 Waves in Magnetoplasmas 4 Magnetoplasma Stability 5 Transport in Magnetoplasmas 6 Extensions of Theory Bibliography Index