DIII-D latest results and implications

The DIII-D tokamak has demonstrated the feasibility of the divertor configuration for future reactor relevant devices. H-mode (good) confinement has been demonstrated for deuterium discharges in both single-null and double-null divertor configurations and under a variety of heating scenarios including neutral beam injection, electron cyclotron heating, and ohmic heating. Plasma beta values (β = 6.8%) near expected theoretical limits (3.5 I/aB) have been demonstrated. Plasma currents are limited by safety factors q > 2 near the surface of the plasma. Energy confinement improves with increasing plasma current until q decreases below 3. Divertor heat flow has been documented and initial boundary physics studies carried out. Non-inductive current drive has been demonstrated using neutral beam injection. 7 refs., 8 figs., 1 tab