The global build-up to intrinsic ELM bursts seen in divertor full flux loops in Jet

TL;DR

This study identifies a global magnetic signature in divertor flux loops that builds up prior to intrinsic ELMs in JET, potentially enabling real-time ELM prediction and mitigation.

Contribution

It reveals a phase alignment and synchronization pattern in full flux loop signals that precedes intrinsic ELMs, offering a new global indicator for ELM build-up.

Findings

VLD2 and VLD3 signals align to ELM phase 2-5 ms before occurrence

Signals become phase synchronized, indicating global plasma dynamics

Build-up signature can be detected without data beyond ELM time

Abstract

A global signature of the build-up to an intrinsic ELM is found in the phase of signals measured in full flux azimuthal loops in the divertor region of JET. Full flux loop signals provide a global measurement proportional to the voltage induced by changes in poloidal magnetic flux; they are electromagnetically induced by the dynamics of spatially integrated current density. We perform direct time-domain analysis of the high time-resolution full flux loop signals VLD2 and VLD3. We analyze plasmas where a steady H-mode is sustained over several seconds, during which all the observed ELMs are intrinsic; there is no deliberate intent to pace the ELMing process by external means. ELM occurrence times are determined from the Be II emission at the divertor. We previously found that the occurrence times of intrinsic ELMs correlate with specific phases of the VLD2 and VLD3 signals. Here, we investigate how the VLD2 and VLD3 phases vary with time in advance of the ELM occurrence time. We identify a build-up to the ELM in which the VLD2 and VLD3 signals progressively align to the phase at which ELMs preferentially occur, on a ~ 2 -5ms timescale. At the same time, the VLD2 and VLD3 signals become phase synchronized with each other, consistent with the emergence of coherent global dynamics in the integrated current density. In a plasma that remains close to a global magnetic equilibrium, this can reflect bulk displacement or motion of the plasma. This build-up signature to an intrinsic ELM can be extracted from a time interval of data that does not extend beyond the ELM occurrence time, so that these full flux loop signals could assist in ELM prediction or mitigation.