Description
As fusion technology rapidly advances, driven in part by growing synergy between research institutions and private companies, the IGNITOR experiment gains renewed relevance due to its ability to access plasma regimes close to ignition [1-3]. Its realization would address the remaining gaps in the understanding of burning plasmas that are critical for the success of the forthcoming fusion reactor prototype. With a well-established physics basis and mature technological design, Ignitor could be realized within a few years and, owing to its compact and conservative approach, at a fraction of the cost of larger devices currently in operation or under construction.
Following the line of compact, high-field devices such as Alcator C-mod and FTU, Ignitor can sustain high plasma densities and currents, enabling very high-gain plasmas and potentially ignition sustained by fusion alpha heating.
Previous studies of the 11 MA, 13 T reference scenario [1], performed with a dedicated version of the JETTO code [3], provided a consistent description of plasma evolution and showed that ignition should be achievable with purely ohmic heating, and accelerated with modest auxiliary power (ICRH), provided adequate control of temperature and density profiles [1–3]. Building on these earlier results, the present work aims to revisit and extend the analysis of the 11 MA scenario by coupling the modern integrated modeling framework High-Fidelity-Pulse-Simulator HFPS [4] with the advanced TGLF gyrofluid-based turbulent transport model [5]. This approach enables a more physics-based treatment of microturbulent transport and allows for a reassessment of burning-plasma performance and RF heating effectiveness under updated modeling assumptions. A comparison between the earlier core transport simulations performed with
Bohm/gyroBohm model and the new HFPS-TGLF simulations is expected to provide deeper insight into the robustness of Ignitor scenarios and into the role of RF heating in controlling high-gain burning plasmas.
[1] B. Coppi et al 2013 Nucl. Fusion 53 104013
[2] A. Airoldi and G. Cenacchi 1997 Nucl. Fusion 37 1117
[3] B. Coppi et al 2001 Nucl. Fusion 41 1253
[4] M. Romanelli et al 2014 Plasma Fusion Research 9 3403023
[5] J.E. Kinsey et al Phys. Plasmas, 15 055908, 2008.