The Experiments of the small Spherical Tokamak

Gutta
G.M. Vorobyov, D.A. Ovsyannikov, A.D. Ovsyannikov, E.V. Suhov, E. I.
Veremey, V. M. Zavadsky, A. P. Zhabko

St. Petersburg State University, Zubov Institute

of Computational Mathematics and Control Processes,
Faculty of Applied Mathematics and Control Processes

Abstract. GUTTA is a small spherical tokamak (R = 16cm, a = 8cm, Ip = 150kA) operating at the St. Petersburg State
University since 2004 in the scope of the IAEA CRP "Joint Research using Small Tokamaks”. Main scientific activities
on GUTTA include development of new and improvement of existing mathematical models of plasma control, relevant
for application on large tokamaks and ITER and verification of them on GUTTA; studies on the ECRH/EBW assisted
breakdown and non-solenoid plasma formation in low aspect ratio tokamak; development of diagnostics; training and
education of students.
In this paper design properties of Gutta will be presented. Regimes of operation of the tokamak and plasma shape
parameters are described and first results of the plasma formation and start-up studied will be discussed
Keywords: tokamak, ECR breakdown.
PACS: 52.55.Fa 52.50.Sw

INTRODUCTION
EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS
During the series of experiments on Gutta small
spherical tokamak ECR pre-ionization studies was
carried out. Pressure Scan
SCHEME OF THE EXPERIMENT During ECR discharge with constant microwave
power and some specific conditions (such as middle
gas pressure, high microwave power, not very well
conditioned wall) regular self-oscillations of visible
light emission appear.

FIGURE 1. Scheme of the experiment.

FIGURE 2. Top, green – visible light; bottom, yellow

CREDIT LINE (BELOW) TO BE INSERTED ON THE FIRST PAGE OF EACH PAPER

CP875, Plasma and Fusion Science

edited by J. J. E. Herrera-Velázquez
© 2006 American Institute of Physics 978-0-7354-0375-8/06/$23.00
53
 – RF power at 900 in toroidal angle. Gas pressure
1.75*10-4 torr, microwave power 20kW.

FIGURE 6. Top, green – visible light; bottom, yellow –

RF power at 900 in toroidal angle. Gas pressure 3.75*10-5
FIGURE 3. Top, green – visible light; bottom, yellow – torr, microwave power 20kW.
RF power at 900 in toroidal angle. Gas pressure 1.75*10-4
torr, microwave power 20kW.

At lower filling pressure no self-oscillations of

visible light emission were observed.

FIGURE 7. Top, green – visible light; bottom, yellow –

RF power at 900 in toroidal angle. Gas pressure 2.5*10-5
torr, microwave power 20kW.

Fine structure between two self-oscillations were

FIGURE 4. Top, green – visible light; bottom, yellow – observed.
RF power at 900 in toroidal angle. Gas pressure 1.5*10-4
torr, microwave power 20kW.

FIGURE 8. Top, green – visible light; bottom, yellow –

RF power at 900 in toroidal angle. Gas pressure 1,75*10-4
FIGURE 5. Top, green – visible light; bottom, yellow – torr, microwave power 20kW.
RF power at 900 in toroidal angle. Gas pressure 1.5*10-4
torr Microwave power 20kW. Pressure Scan
At even lower filling pressure b/d delay increases. At lower RF power no self-oscillations of visible
light emission were observed.

54
FIGURE 9. Top, green – visible light; bottom, yellow – FIGURE 12. Top, green – visible light; bottom, yellow –
RF power at 900 in toroidal angle. Gas pressure 1,25*10-4 RF power at 900 in toroidal angle. Gas pressure 2*10-5 torr
torr, microwave power 4kW. Microwave power 4 kW. Ultra-violet on.

BV optimization
Breakdown delay depends on vertical magnetic
field. Optimal value of vertical field is not equal to
zero (in agreement with theory, Zakharov, Pereversev,
Sov. J. Pl. Phys., 14 (1998) 75).

FIGURE 10. Top, green – visible light; bottom, yellow –

RF power at 900 in toroidal angle. Gas pressure 2,25*10-4
torr, microwave power 4kW.

U/V lamp assisted breakdown

Ultra-violet lamp assists breakdown at low
pressure. FIGURE 13. Top, green – visible light; bottom, yellow –
RF power at 900 in toroidal angle. Gas pressure 1.7*10-5
torr, RF power 20kW, vertical field no.

FIGURE 11. Top, green – visible light; bottom, yellow –

RF power at 900 in toroidal angle. Gas pressure 2*10-5 torr
Microwave power 4 kW. Ultra-violet off.
FIGURE 14. Top, green – visible light; bottom, yellow –
RF power at 900 in toroidal angle. Gas pressure 1.7*10-5
torr, RF power 20kW, vertical field 1.2*10-3 T
.

55

FIGURE 15. Top, green – visible light; bottom, yellow –
RF power at 900 in toroidal angle. Gas pressure 1.7*10-5
torr, RF power 20kW, vertical field 7*10-3 T
Self-oscillations of light emission – old
results
The same processes observed on another devices and
even in electrode discharges ([1] B.N. Shustrov, A I.
Anisimov, N. Blashenkov. G.Y. Lavrentyev. G.G.
Petrov, “Self-organizing in gas discharge”, Preprint
Ioffe Institute, Leningrad,1988).
FIGURE 16. Light emission during ECR discharge in
tokamak
FIGURE 17. Light emission during electrode discharge in
linear device
56
CONCLUSIONS
As previously observed [1], self-oscillations in gas
discharges during breakdown phase often appear,
depending on gas pressure, RF power and electrodes
surface conditions (in electrode discharge). In
electrode discharges, when energy flux to cathode
exceeds some threshold, it changes cathode’s emission
characteristics. That is why discharge is self-
oscillating.
In ECR discharge in toroidal vessel electrons and
ions drift vertically in opposite directions. Ions cause
secondary electron emission from the wall. These
secondary electrons affect discharge more than one
produced by direct ionization from RF power. When
ion power load on the wall exceeds some threshold,
self-oscillations appear, like in the electrode discharge.
This also explains the similar influence of wall
conditions on self-oscillations in RF discharges. With
very clean vessel walls we couldn’t achieve
breakdown in GUTTA. Same results observed on other
devices.
Vertical magnetic field affects ion flux on the wall
as it produces parallel flux in addition to vertical drift.
It also produces pressure-driven (C Forest) current
ECR discharge depends not only on processes
inside vessel, but on processes on vacuum vessel wall
References
1. M.P. Gryaznevich, G.M. Vorobjev. Status of the Gutta
tokamak. Culham OPS Note 1992.
2. G Vorobyov, GUTTA, RCM JRUST, Lisbon, 7-10 Nov.
2004
3. V.M. Zavadskij, G.M. Vorobyov, S.V. Zavadsky,
Structure of Gutta small tokamak control and data
retrieval system, International Conference in memory of
V.I. Zubov Stability and Control Processe, 29 June-1
July 2005, Saint-Petersburg.
4. D.A. Ovsyannikov, A.D. Ovsyannikov, A.P. Zhabko,
E.I. Veremey, G.M. Vorobyov, V.M. Zavadskij,
Program for scientific and educational investigations on
the base of small spherical tokamak Gutta, International
Conference Physics and Control, August 24-26, 2005,
Saint-Petersburg.
5. G.M. Vorobjev, D.A. Ovsyannikov,A.D. Ovsyannikov,
E.V. Suhov, E.I. Veremey, V.M. Zavadsky, A.P. Zhabko
Modern Status and First Experiments of the Small
Spherical Tokamak Gutta Joint Meeting of THE 3rd
IAEA Technical Meeting on Sperical Tori and the 11th
International Workshop on Spherical Torus 3 to 6
October 2005, Saint-Petersburg.