Current flows towards the divertor during VDEs at COMPASS

Direct measurements of current flows during vertical displacement events (VDEs) have been carried out on COMPASS to better understand current pattern distribution within vessel structure and divertor. Especially, asymmetric VDEs resulting in sideways forces on the vacuum vessel, are potentially challenging for ITER. The theoretical understanding of these events is not yet conclusive. The experiments described here aim on testing the model of asymmetric toroidal eddy currents that predicts that toroidal currents between plasma facing components (short-circuited through the plasma) can significantly modify the current flow path between the plasma and the vacuum vessel and thus the resulting forces by VDEs.