The Fusion Research Center (FRC) of the University of Texas at Austin conducts experiments to advance understanding of plasma transport and turbulence. For our experiments, we use both tokamaks and a unique low temperature plasma device. The tokamks include Alcator C-Mod, DIIII-D, EAST, HT-7, and J-TEXT. The low temperature plasma device is the Helimak which emulates the sheared slab model common in turbulence theory. We maintain expertise in plasma diagnostic systems including electron cyclotron emission for electron temperature, charge exchange recombination spectroscopy for ion temperature and plasma flow, beam emission spectroscopy for plasma density fluctuations and for beam monitoring, monitors for the performance of diagnostic neutral beams (DNB), and Langmuir probes for electron density and temperature.

Light Impurity transport on Alcator C-Mod
Accumulation of impurities in a tokamak discharge leads to dilution of the fusion fuel and to enhanced energy loss. Confluence of the measurement of a few characteristic profiles shapes and their prediction by turbulence theory provides the opportunity to make progress both toward fusion and toward identification of the physics of transport.
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Thermal transport just inside the pedestal in Alcator C-Mod
Electron transport will be investigated in the little studied, but critical, region that links the edge pedestal with the confinement region of the plasma.
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Shear Suppression Dependence on Ion Mass
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Finish study on barrier formation with varying EXB shear
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Carry out hollow Te profile experiment
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Conduct initial experiment on TS/ECE discrepancy
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Improved measurements of the ITB boron density with integrated CXRS/BES system
Develop a BES diagnostic for measurement of beam density to reduce uncertainty in CXRS measurement of boron density by removing the requirement for separate calibration of beam density and the requirement for measurement of etendue.

Detection and measurement of fast ions in Alcator C-Mod
Fast, non-thermal ions in the Alcator C-Mod plasma can be detected and localized in space and time via their interaction with a high energy neutral beam. Measurement of these populations can lead to identification of the physics for absorption of RF waves in plamsas and facilitate investigation of transport of non-thermal ions in thermal plasmas.
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Measure ER and E×B shear in an internal transport barrier in Alcator C-Mod.
There appears to be an Er well in the vicinity of the ITB. Is this the critical controlling feature for transport at the ITB as it is for the pedestal?
Improved measurements of the ITB boron density with integrated CXRS/BES system
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Development of a Hot Calibration Source for the ITER ECE Diagnostic
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Develop CXRS diagnostic on HT-7 for use on HT-7 and on EAST
Guided by a detailed model for CXRS emission, the optics and spectrometer used for the HT-7 work will be modified to provide optimum performance on EAST.
US lead: Bill Rowan, UT-FRC
US Participants: Ken Gentle (PI), Huang He, Perry Phillips
PRC Participants: Yuejiang Shi, Baonian Wan

ECE for EAST: Focusing mirror system to provide high spatial resolution.
The system will include an elliptical mirror coupling over-moded waveguide to the plasma resulting in a spatial resolution of a few centimeters.
US Lead: Perry Phillips, UT-FRC
US Participants: M. E. Austin, Ken Gentle (PI), Huang He, Bill Rowan
PRC Participants: Ang Ti, Bili Ling, Q.Du , Q Sh Fei, X.Gao, B.N.Wan

ECE for EAST: Hot calibration source to allow independent calibration of the ECE system for temperature profile measurements.
US Lead: Perry Phillips, UT-FRC
US Participants: M. E. Austin, Ken Gentle (PI), Huang He, Bill Rowan
PRC Participants: Ang Ti, Bili Ling, Q.Du , Q Sh Fei, X.Gao, B.N.Wan

Neutral beam for EAST
Determine the best beam parameters for the CXRS diagnostic and then either transfer this beam to EAST with modifications or propose a replacement beam
US Lead: Bill Rowan, UT-FRC
US Participants: Ken Gentle (PI), Huang He, Perry Phillips
PRC Participants: Y.Xie,Y.Shi, B.Wan, J. Fu, C.Hu

Diagnostic Systems



Student Research Opportunities