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Using local nonlinear gyrokinetic simulations and building up on linear results from a companion paper (Volčokas 2024 Submitted for publication), we demonstrate that turbulent eddies can extend along magnetic field lines for hundreds of poloidal turns in tokamaks with weak or zero magnetic shear s ^ . We observe that this parallel eddy length scales inversely with magnetic shear and at s ^ = 0 is limited by the thermal speed of electrons v th , e . We examine the consequences of these 'ultra long' eddies on turbulent transport, in particular, how field line topology mediates strong parallel self-interaction. Our investigation reveals that, through this process, field line topology can strongly affect transport. It can cause transitions between different turbulent instabilities and in some cases triple the logarithmic gradient needed to drive a given amount of heat flux. We also extensively study a novel 'eddy squeezing' effect introduced in Volčokas (2023 Nucl. Fusion 63 014003), which reduces the perpendicular size of eddies and their ability to transport energy, thus representing a novel approach to improve confinement. Finally, we investigate the triggering mechanism of Internal Transport Barriers (ITBs) using low magnetic shear simulations, shedding light on why ITBs are often easier to trigger where the safety factor has a low-order rational value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the impact of low and zero magnetic shear, along with rational values of safety factor, on linear mode behavior in tokamak plasmas. We focus on how magnetic field line topology and parallel domain length influence linear mode structures and growth rates as magnetic shear decreases. Our results show that as magnetic shear is reduced to low values, linear modes can transition between different branches, significantly affecting their characteristics. At zero magnetic shear, accurate modeling requires precisely capturing magnetic topology, as small deviations near rational surfaces can greatly impact growth rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reliable equilibrium reconstruction is indispensable for understanding and controlling hot magnetized plasmas to achieve fusion reactors. In axisymmetric systems, current and pressure profiles that satisfy the force balance conditions are given by the Grad–Shafranov (GS) equation. While many novel approaches have been developed to swiftly and robustly find an optimum solution of the GS equation, approaches based on a single solution search may not be adaptable if diagnostics fail to provide sufficient constraints. Here, we investigate the solution space of the GS equation when only basic edge magnetic measurements are available. By combining Gaussian process regression and Markov chain Monte Carlo sampling within the Bayesian framework, we treat each current element as an independent variable and evaluate the probability distribution that describes all possible solutions. We have applied this inference frame to the geometry of the PLATO tokamak and shown that the flux surface locations can be determined relatively well only from 16 pick-up coils, 4 flux loops and a diamagnetic loop. On the other hand, the toroidal current density is inferred with limited success, and the inferences of the safety factor and pressure profiles are difficult. The characterization of possible choices of equilibria realized by this inference framework will help optimize diagnostic setups for equilibrium reconstruction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simultaneous regulation of multiple properties in next-generation tokamaks like ITER and fusion pilot plant may require the integration of different plasma control algorithms. Such integration requires the conversion of individual controller commands into physical actuator requests while accounting for the coupling between different plasma properties. This work proposes a tokamak and scenario-agnostic actuator-sharing algorithm (ASA) to perform the above-mentioned command-request conversion and, hence, integrate multiple plasma controllers. The proposed algorithm implicitly solves a quadratic programming (QP) problem formulated to account for the saturation limits and the relation between the controller commands and physical actuator requests. Since the constraints arising in the QP program are linear, the proposed ASA is highly computationally efficient and can be implemented in the tokamak plasma control system in real time. Furthermore, the proposed algorithm is designed to handle real-time changes in the control objectives and actuators' availability. Nonlinear simulations carried out using the Control Oriented Transport SIMulator illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm in achieving multiple control objectives simultaneously. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The density shoulder represents a universal physical phenomenon that is closely related to the particle and energy transports occurring within the scrape-off layer (SOL) region of tokamak devices. A novel method has been developed to identify the density shoulder through the analysis of the bump structure in the time delay spectra from monostatic microwave reflectometry in EAST tokamak, obviating the need for density profile reconstruction. The density shoulder in EAST is characterized by a number of distinctive features. The density shoulder is mostly situated at a distance of 0–3 cm from the last closed flux surface, with a width of a few centimeters. No significant correlation is observed between its occurrence and the auxiliary heating or the confinement state. In the case of H-mode with quasi-coherent mode (QCM), a significant and positive correlation is observed between the density shoulder amplitude and QCM intensity. In the case of grassy-edge localized mode (ELM)-like H-mode, a density shoulder is also observed during the inter-ELM stage. Furthermore, as supersonic molecular beam injection (SMBI) deposits occur within the range of ρ = 0.9 ∼ 1, the density shoulder is also enhanced during the SMBI fueling process. Moreover, it appears that the neutral pressure has a more pronounced impact on the overall offset of the density profile than the strength of the density shoulder. These results collectively indicate that the outward particle transport from the pedestal to the SOL region plays a crucial role in the evolution of the density shoulder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The evolution of a deformed subcritical fast magnetosonic shock front is compared between two two-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations with different orientations of the magnetic field relative to the simulation box. All other initial and simulation conditions are kept identical. Shock boundary oscillations are observed in the simulation where the magnetic field direction is resolved. This oscillation is caused by the reformation of the shock front. One part of the front acts as a shock, while the other functions as a magnetic piston, with both halves changing their states in antiphase. The oscillation period corresponds to the time required for one shock wave to grow as the other collapses. In contrast, the corrugated fast magnetosonic shock does not oscillate in the second simulation, where the magnetic field is oriented out of the simulation plane. This dependence on magnetic field orientation suggests that the shock oscillation is induced by magnetic tension, which is only effective in the first simulation. In both simulations, the shock perturbation does not grow over time, indicating that the shocks are stable. The potential relevance of these findings for the Alfvénic oscillations of the supercritical Earth's bow shock, detected by the MMS multi-spacecraft mission, is also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]