Stabilization of ion-temperature-gradient mode by trapped fast ions

Abstract

Abstract Understanding and modeling fast-ion stabilization of ion-temperature-gradient (ITG) driven microturbulence have profound implications for designing and optimizing future fusion reactors. In this work, an analytic model is presented, which describes the effect of fast ions on ITG mode. This model is derived from a bounce-average gyro-kinetic equation for trapped fast ions and ballooning transformation for ITG mode. In addition to dilution, strong wave-fast-ion resonant interaction is involved in this model. Based on numerical calculations, the effects of the main physical parameters are studied. The increasing density of fast ions will strengthen the effects of fast ions. The effect of wave-particle resonance strongly depends on the temperature of fast ions. Furthermore, both increasing density gradient and the ratio of the temperature and density gradients can strengthen the stabilization of fast ions in ITG mode. Finally, the influence of resonance broadening of wave-particle interaction is discussed.