Abstract Details
Abstracts
Author: Nikolai Gorelenkov
Requested Type: Poster
Submitted: 2026-04-15 09:30:47
Co-authors: T. Barberis, V.N. Duarte, M.V. Gorelenkova, A. Pankin
Contact Info:
PPPL, Princeton University
48 Jamestown road
Belle Mead, New Jersey 08502
US
Abstract Text:
Recent advances in energetic particle (EP) physics highlight the dual role of Alfvén eigenmodes (AEs) in fusion plasmas. While traditionally considered detrimental due to enhanced fast-ion transport, emerging evidence indicates that AEs can also improve confinement through the generation of zonal modes that regulate microturbulence. This presentation addresses EP relaxation in present and future devices, with a focus on studying the confinement of alpha particles and beam ions in the presence of AE activity.
We employ a multi-scale modeling framework combining ideal MHD simulations with NOVA, drift-kinetic calculations with NOVA-C, and quasi-linear modeling (recently developed RBQ code (N. N. Gorelenkov et al., 2019; N. N. Gorelenkov and V. N. Duarte, 2021)) coupled to NUBEAM to evaluate AE stability, wave–particle interactions, and EP transport on equilibrium timescales. The model incorporates renormalization of AE-driven diffusion to account for evolving fast-ion pressure during the discharge. Different reduced models published recently as well as the technique introduced in TRANSP which is based on GS2 methodology are explored.
Our results provide predictive capability for EP confinement and highlight the potential impact of Alfvénic activity together with background microturbulence on the current drive and steady-state operations in burning plasma devices. One potential concern for ITER plasma operations is the effect of Alfvénic modes on current drive, which could hinder the realization of a self-sustained steady-state plasma scenario.
This work is supported by US DOE contract no. DE-AC02-09CH11466.
Characterization: 1.0
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