Disruption Prediction and Avoidance at High Beta in NSTX-U ¿ Spherical Tokamak Science and Real Time Application

Disruption prediction and avoidance in tokamaks to enable continuous spherical tokamak (ST)

operation are the highest Tier 1 DOE Fusion Energy Sciences (FEC) strategic priority elements. These

critical issues are the present-day “grand challenge” topics for high performance tokamak applied plasma

science. The research in this proposal directly addresses these highest priority DOE FES elements

described in DOE report “Fusion Energy Sciences Workshop on Transients Report” (February 2016) and

the key areas of interest stated in the present “Collaborative research on international and domestic

spherical tokamaks” DOE funding solicitation. The proposed research thoroughly supports the Spherical

Tokamak scientific research program by directly addressing 4 of the 5 key scientific issues stated on page

1 of the solicitation. Through a balanced research program of fundamental ST physics validation, tested

physics-based disruption prediction, and real-time application of disruption avoidance control based on

the disruption prediction, the research will provide fundamental understanding of magnetically confined

ST plasmas and will assesses the attractiveness of the spherical tokamak for future fusion facilities.