France’s WEST tokamak at the Institute for Magnetic Fusion Research (IRFM), part of the Atomic Energy Commission (CEA – Commissariat à l’énergie Atomique et aux énergies Alternatives), has achieved record results. WEST’s latest campaign, which started in mid-January set a new plasma duration record of 6 minutes and 4 seconds, with an injected energy of 1.15 GJ, along with a steady-state central electron temperature of 4 keV (50m degrees Celsius), and an electron density twice that of discharges obtained in the tokamak’s previous configuration, Tore Supra. The electron temperature was measured using a new method developed by collaborators from the US Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL).
The campaign also explored the “X-Point radiation” plasma scenario resulting in the achievement of one-minute plasmas with low electron temperature in the divertor. This, in turn, improved the lifespan of the plasma-facing components by allowing for a better distribution of heat fluxes. In addition, several new diagnostics were successfully deployed, providing new measurements to characterise core and edge plasma. New records for power injection systems were also achieved, with 5.8 MW injected by the lower hybrid heating and current drive system and over 4 MW by the ion cyclotron resonance heating system. WEST also surpassed the milestone of 10,000 plasmas since the first WEST plasma was achieved in December 2016.
The tokamak is currently shutdown for maintenance and the installation of new systems. The next experimental campaign will begin in autumn.
