14th Workshop of the IEA Implementing Agreement on RFP Research
Padova, 26-28 April, 2010
Fusion Research in China and at USTC
Wandong Liu
School of Physical Sciences, University of Science
and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
Outline
 Fusion program in China
– Focus on tokamak research
 Plasma physics and fusion research at the
University of Sci. & Tech. of China (USTC)
– The role of USTC in fusion program in China
 The past and possible future RFP program
in China
Outline
 Fusion program in China
– Focus on tokamak research
 Plasma physics and fusion research at the
University of Sci. & Tech. of China (USTC)
– The role of USTC in fusion program in China
 The past and possible future RFP program
in China
Fusion program in China
 Diversity during the early days (starting
from 1958):
– Z pinch, Ө pinch, FRC, reversed field pinch
– focus, mirror device
– stellarator
–
tokamak
An early stellarator in China
Stellarator “LinYun”: designed in1965, capacitor bank
energy: 800kJ plus ICRF heating
Tokamaks in China
 Past decades:
– Tokamaks: CT-6, HL-1, HL-2, HT-6, KT-5
 Today:
– Tokamaks in institutes: EAST, HT-7, HL-2A
– Tokamak in universities : J-TEXT, Sunist (ST)
The tradition of diversified fusion research has
been lost!
Tokamaks in China
Institute of Plasma Physics Chinese Academy of Sciences
EAST & HT-7 at ASIPP
SouthWestern Institute of Physics
HL-2A at SWIP
Huazhong University of Science & Tech
Joint-TEXT at HUST
Qinghua University
ST: SUNIST
University of Science and
Technology of China (USTC)
HT-7 superconducting tokamak （ASIPP）
R = 1.22m, a = 0.27m
Ip = 100~250 kA (250)
BT = 1~2.5T(2.5)
ne = 1~8x1019m-3 (6.5)
Te = 1~5 KeV (4)
Ti = 0.2~1.5K eV (1.5)
ICRF:
f = 15~30MHz, P = 0.3MW(0.35)
f = 30~110MHz, P = 1.5MW (0.6)
LHCD:
f = 2.45GHz, P = 1.2MW(0.8)
Pellet injector
Supersonic beam injection
Main Goal: Advanced Steadystate operation and related
physics
EAST full superconducting tokamak （ASIPP）
HL-2A Tokamak（ SWIP）
HL-2M
Ip
kA
450
1200
BT
T
2.8
2.57
R0
m
1.65
1.80
a
m
0.4
0.50
5.0
10.0
Kx
1.2
1.6~1.8
δx
0.1
≥0.5
Flux Swing V·S
Upgrade of HL-2A:
HL-2M Tokamak
HL-2A
J-TEXT Tokamak（HUST）
J-TEXT
Former TEXT in Austin
Focus on training fusion engineers
Ip
kA
400
BT
T
3
R0
m
1.05
a
m
0.27
Pulse length
Sec
0.5
Averaged
Density
m-3
2～5x1019m-3
Averaged Te
keV
1.0
Outline
 Fusion program in China
– Focus on tokamak research
 Plasma physics and fusion research at the
USTC
– The role of USTC in fusion program in
China
 The past and possible future RFP program
in China
University of Science and Technology of China
 USTC was established by the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS)
in Beijing in 1958, and moved to Hefei, Anhui in 1970.
 USTC is aimed at providing the country and the rest of world with
high level scientists and engineers.
 Enrollment to USTC is extremely selective, for only top 3-5 ‰ of
the high school graduates in China are admitted.
 70% of the undergraduates continue to pursue post-graduate study
home and abroad every year.
 Over 10,000 alumni are working or studying outside China, mostly
in northern America.Year 2008
619, 33%
750, 40%
graduate study
inside China
graduate study
outside China
others
497, 27%
Key Figure & Fact of USTC
Schools



Mathematics
Engineering Science
Physical Sciences
Computer Science & Tech.
Chemistry & Material Science
Information Science & Tech.
Life Science
Management
Earth & Space Science
Humanities & Social Science
Nuclear Science & Tech
Gifted Young
1350 academic staff, including 463 full professors, 30 academicians of CAS
and/or CAE.
16000 students, including 7400 undergraduates, 8200 graduate students (2400
PhD ).
“Time Higher Education Supplement” ranked USTC the 3rd place in China
in 2008
School of Physical Sciences
Discipline
Department
Laboratory
Condense Matter Phys
Dept. Phys
NL Physical Science at Microscale
Micro-Electronics
NL Synchrotron Radiation
Theoretical Phys
CAS Key Lab of Basic Plasma Physics
Particle & Nuclear Phys
Dept Modern Phys
CAS Key Lab of Nucl Det. & Electronics
Plasma Physics
PKL Physical Electronics Laboratory
Atom & Mole Phys
CAS Key Lab of Quantum Information
Physical Electronics
Dept Optics & OE
PKL The Photo-Electro Laboratory
Optics
Optical Engineering
Dept. Astronomy
CAS Key Lab of Galaxies and Cosmology
astrophysics
C Phys Ex Teaching
NC for Phys Experiment Teaching
Physics Research Situation in USTC (1999-2009, ESI)
Type
Published
Papers
Total
Citations
Citation per
paper
Range to compare
Rank of USTC
All institutions
24
All universities
13
Chinese universities
1
All institutions
92
All universities
63
Chinese universities
1
All institutions
582
All universities
428
Chinese universities
1
Plasma research at USTC
 Plasma division in USTC
– Founded in 1972
– Has the most comprehensive subjects in China
 CAS key Laboratory of Basic Plasma Physics
– 31 faculty members
Fusion plasma physics
Diagnostic & Experimental & Theoretical & Simulation research
Magnetic confinement fusion (12 members)
Inertial confinement fusion (7 members)
Space plasma physics (10 members)
Data analysis & Theory & Simulation
Low temperature plasma and its application (8 members)
Fundamental plasma research & plasma application
Facilities of Plasma research in USTC
R=30cm
a=8cm
Ip=15kA
Bt~3kG
t~2ms
L = 200cm
D = 25cm
Bt ~ 1kG
108~1013cm-3
KT-5 Tokamak
Linear Magnetized Device
Double Plasma Device Collisional Plasma Device
Dusty plasma
Ion acoustic wave
Nonlinear phenomena
Plasma is produced via high energy
electron beam in high pressure.
Main research activities
 Diagnostic Techniques for Tokamak Plasma
– Laser
• HCN interfemeter, CO2 coherent scattering, CO2 phase
contrast, Thomson scattering…
– Microwave
• Electron Cyclotron Emission Imaging at EAST and HT-7
• Doppler reflectometer at EAST and HT-7
– Electrostatic probe at HT-7, EAST and HL-2A
• Zonal flow research in edge plasma
Zonal flow research in the edge plasma of HL-2A
Poloidal and Toroidal Symmetries
#8297
#8530
Probe Arrays Configuration
Liu et al, Phys. Rev.
Lett. 103, 095002 (2009)
•
The mode numbers are estimated to be
m  .1 and n  1
Sawtooth research via ECEI in HT-7 & EAST
2D visualization of sawtooth reconnection
1
 Te/Te
0.1
2 3 4 56
7
8
0.04
0.02
0
-0.02
-0.04
-0.06
0
-0.1
2660
2680
2700
2720
2740
2760
2780
2800
2820
2840
2000 2500 3000
t ( s)
1
ECEI system in HT-7
Sigal noise ratio ≥20 dB
Data Acqusition: 128Ch*1M/s
k  d about35 ~ 21 cm1
d r ~ 1 cm
4
6
5
7
8
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0.1
0.05
Z (cm)
ECEI spatial resolution 
3
2
0
-0.05
-5
-5
2004 Plasma Sci. Technol. 6 2166
-10
-10
8
10
2006 Plasma Science Technol. 8 76
r (cm)
2009 Chin. Phys. B, 18, 1153
2010 Plasma Phys. Control. Fusion,52,015008
-5
-5
-5
-5
-5
-5
-0.1
-10
-10
8 10
r (cm)
-10
-10
-10
8 10
8 10
8 10
r (cm)
r (cm)
r (cm)
-10
8 10
8 10
8 10
r (cm)
r (cm)
r (cm)
Low-field side (Ip=170kA, ne=2.4, Bt=1.9T, qa=3.3)
Plasma research activities on campus
• Fundamental plasma research in small device
 KT-5 Tokamak
• Ion Bernstein Wave, Turbulence, Coherent structure, Biased electrode,
shear flow induced by RF…
 Linear magnetized device
• Drift turbulence, Zonal flow, Coherent structure, Source technology…
• Magnetic reconnection experiment
-3
x 10
4
2.5
3
3
2
2
1
y(cm)
y(cm)
1
2
0
0
1.5
-1
-1
-2
1
-2
-3
-3
-4
-3
-2
-1
0
x(cm)
1
2
3
4
-4
-5
0
x(cm)
5
0.5
Theoretical Studies of Fusion Plasmas
 Instability criterion of tearing modes for arbitrary magnetic shear
configuration, Ding Li, Phys. Plasmas, 1998, 5, 1231
 Finite bootstrap current density and finite neo-classical reduction of
electrical conductivity at the magnetic axis of a tokamak, S. Wang, Phys.
Plasmas 5, 3319 (1998)
 Non-local relaxation of neoclassical ions in tokamaks, S. Wang, Phys.
Plasmas 6, 1393 (1999)
 New Coulomb logarithm and its effects to Fokker-Planck equation,
relaxation times and cross-field transport in fusion plasma, Ding Li, Nucl.
Fusion, 2001, 41, (5), 631
 Destabilization of Internal Kink Modes at High Frequency by Energetic
Circulating Ions, S. Wang, Phys. Rev. Lett. 86, 5286 (2001)
 Effects of Circulating Energetic Ions on Sawtooth Oscillations, S. Wang, T.
Ozeki, and K. Tobita, Phys. Rev. Lett. 88, 105004 (2002)
Outline
 Fusion program in China
– Focus on tokamak research
 Plasma physics and fusion research at the
University of Sci. & Tech. of China (USTC)
– The role of USTC in fusion program in China
 The past and possible future RFP program
in China
The former RFP research in China
 Construction from 1985
running from 1989
Shutdown in 1997
 R=0.48m, a=0.1m
air core
 Al shell: d=1cm
stainless steel liner:
d=0.4mm
 plasma pulse < 2ms,
Ip~150kA(max)
Te~100eV
The first RFP device in China :SWIP-RFP
The former RFP research in China
Time evolution in SWIP-RFP
Why re-start RFP project in China?
Toroidal alternate research is
essential for fusion program in
China!
Motivation
 Diversity is part of the nature, so is fusion
research.
– Ancient Chinese philosophy “Let a hundred
schools of thought contend” (BC 770)
 Improve the understanding of toroidal
confinement in general
 Test bed for diagnostics development
Why in USTC
 Favorable geographic location: close to EAST, ASIPP
(15km)
 Training of fusion talents is the priority of university
 Human resource advantage: USTC has strong research
teams in both fusion and space plasma research
 The richness of the RFP physics fits the need of USTC
The possible parameters of USTC-RFP
Major radius:
1.6 m
Minor radius:
0.35 m
Chamber thickness (Al):
3 cm
Plasma current:
0.1～1 MA
Plasma Pulse:
10～30 ms
Loop Voltage:
10～50 V
Plasma inductance:
Poloidal flux:
Electron temperature:
Plasma density
～4 μH
5 V٠S
600～800 eV
(1～2) x 1019 m-3
Cartoon of USTC-RFP
Aluminum Chamber
Ohm Heating Coil
Edge group
Iron Core
Ohm Heating Coil
center group
Air Core
Possible research subjects
 Single helical state
 Dynamo (in collaboration with space plasma physicists)
 Reconnection in RFP (sawtooth)
 Wall condition: Lithium (Limiter)
 Resistive wall mode
 Plasma shape control, divertor (?)
Open for suggestions
Possible Location of USTC-RFP
Floor
Plan
Thanks, and Welcome to USTC!