IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/nat/natcom/v13y2022i1d10.1038_s41467-022-34092-0.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Observation of a new type of self-generated current in magnetized plasmas

Author

Listed:
  • Yong-Su Na

    (Seoul National University)

  • Jaemin Seo

    (Seoul National University
    Princeton University)

  • Yoonji Lee

    (Seoul National University)

  • Gyungjin Choi

    (Seoul National University)

  • Minseo Park

    (Seoul National University
    Korea Institute of Fusion Energy)

  • Sangjin Park

    (Seoul National University)

  • Sumin Yi

    (Korea Institute of Fusion Energy)

  • Weixing Wang

    (Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory)

  • Min-Gu Yoo

    (Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory
    General Atomics)

  • Minsoo Cha

    (Seoul National University)

  • Beomsu Kim

    (Seoul National University)

  • Young-Ho Lee

    (Seoul National University
    Korea Institute of Fusion Energy)

  • Hyunsun Han

    (Korea Institute of Fusion Energy)

  • Boseong Kim

    (Seoul National University
    Korea Institute of Fusion Energy)

  • Chanyoung Lee

    (Seoul National University
    Korea Institute of Fusion Energy)

  • SangKyeun Kim

    (Princeton University
    Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory)

  • SeongMoo Yang

    (Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory)

  • Cheol-Sik Byun

    (Seoul National University
    Korea Institute of Fusion Energy)

  • Hyun-Seok Kim

    (Korea Institute of Fusion Energy)

  • Jinseok Ko

    (Korea Institute of Fusion Energy)

  • Woochang Lee

    (Korea Institute of Fusion Energy)

  • Taik Soo Hahm

    (Seoul National University)

Abstract

A tokamak, a torus-shaped nuclear fusion device, needs an electric current in the plasma to produce magnetic field in the poloidal direction for confining fusion plasmas. Plasma current is conventionally generated by electromagnetic induction. However, for a steady-state fusion reactor, minimizing the inductive current is essential to extend the tokamak operating duration. Several non-inductive current drive schemes have been developed for steady-state operations such as radio-frequency waves and neutral beams. However, commercial reactors require minimal use of these external sources to maximize the fusion gain, Q, the ratio of the fusion power to the external power. Apart from these external current drives, a self-generated current, so-called bootstrap current, was predicted theoretically and demonstrated experimentally. Here, we reveal another self-generated current that can exist in a tokamak and this has not yet been discussed by present theories. We report conclusive experimental evidence of this self-generated current observed in the KSTAR tokamak.

Suggested Citation

  • Yong-Su Na & Jaemin Seo & Yoonji Lee & Gyungjin Choi & Minseo Park & Sangjin Park & Sumin Yi & Weixing Wang & Min-Gu Yoo & Minsoo Cha & Beomsu Kim & Young-Ho Lee & Hyunsun Han & Boseong Kim & Chanyoun, 2022. "Observation of a new type of self-generated current in magnetized plasmas," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-7, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:13:y:2022:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-022-34092-0
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-34092-0
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-022-34092-0
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1038/s41467-022-34092-0?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Min-Gu Yoo & Jeongwon Lee & Young-Gi Kim & Jayhyun Kim & Francesco Maviglia & Adrianus C. C. Sips & Hyun-Tae Kim & Taik Soo Hahm & Yong-Seok Hwang & Hae June Lee & Yong-Su Na, 2018. "Evidence of a turbulent ExB mixing avalanche mechanism of gas breakdown in strongly magnetized systems," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 9(1), pages 1-13, December.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.

      More about this item

      Statistics

      Access and download statistics

      Corrections

      All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:13:y:2022:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-022-34092-0. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

      If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

      If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

      If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

      For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.nature.com .

      Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

      IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.