Energetic Particle Transport Prediction for CFETR Steady State Scenario Based on Critical Gradient Model

Abstract

The critical gradient mode (CGM) is employed to predict the energetic particle (EP) transport induced by the Alfvén eigenmode (AE). To improve the model, the normalized critical density gradient is set as an inverse proportional function of energetic particle density; consequently, the threshold evolves during EP transport. Moreover, in order to consider the EP orbit loss mechanism in CGM, ORBIT code is employed to calculate the EP loss cone in phase space. With these improvements, the AE enhances EPs radial transport, pushing the particles into the loss cone. The combination of the two mechanisms raises the lost fraction to 6.6%, which is higher than the linear superposition of the two mechanisms. However, the loss is still far lower than that observed in current experiments. Avoiding significant overlap between the AE unstable region and the loss cone is a key factor in minimizing EP loss.