Investigation of Alfvén eigenmodes in Alcator C-Mod using active MHD spectroscopy

Abstract

Alfvén eigenmodes that exist in the shear Alfvén continuum of toroidal magnetic fusion devices may be important for the confinement of energetic particles, particularly fusion-born alpha particles in burning plasma experiments. Interaction between these energetic particles and weakly damped toroidal Alfvén eigenmodes (TAE's) may cause anomalous particle transport leading to incomplete thermalization and possible first wall damage. These consequences must be avoided in next step burning plasma devices and thus an investigation into the stability of TAE's in present machines un- der reactor-like conditions is essential. Measurement of the damping rate of TAE's will provide insight into this area of research. The investigation of TAE's on Alcator C-Mod is accomplished by employing the recently completed Active MHD Spectroscopy system. Antennas mounted inside the C-Mod vacuum vessel are driven by a high power amplifier in the TAE range of frequencies and excite modes inside the plasma. Magnetic fluctuation diagnostics provide the plasma response to this excitation. The damping rate is then calculated from the complex transfer function between the antenna current and plasma response signals.