Designing a Validation Experiment for Radio Frequency Condensation

TL;DR

This paper proposes experimental tests on DIII-D to validate and refine theories suggesting nonlinear effects can cause radio frequency condensation, potentially stabilizing magnetic islands in plasma.

Contribution

It introduces a novel experimental approach to validate and improve the theoretical understanding of radio frequency condensation effects in plasma stabilization.

Findings

Proposes specific experiments on DIII-D for validation

Aims to refine the nonlinear theory of RF condensation

Seeks to demonstrate stabilization of magnetic islands

Abstract

Theoretical studies have suggested that nonlinear effects can lead to "radio frequency condensation", which coalesces RF power deposition and driven current near the center of a magnetic island. It is predicted that an initially broad current profile can coalesce in islands when they reach sufficient width, providing automatic stabilization. Experimental validation of the theory has thus far been lacking. This paper proposes experiments on DIII-D for testing and refining the theory of the nonlinear effects.