Abstract:
The physical features of discrete Alfvén eigenmodes (
αTAEs) bounded by the
α-induced potential wells are investigated in ITER (International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor) with the ITB (internal transport barrier) scenario, where
α denotes a measure of the pressure gradient. The use of the negative-ion-based neutral beam injection (NNBI) heating and current driving can obtain a large and strong ITB for higher performance, and the instability of
αTAE in this scheme is discussed. The
αTAEs during sustaining, shrinking and erosion of ITB are discussed upon the pure radio frequency scenario. It is found that
αTAEs exist in the ITB region due to the steep pressure gradient. More
αTAEs exist in scenarios with strong ITB and the frequencies of these eigenmodes are higher. Multiple
αTAEs are readily destabilized in the presence of energetic particles. The frequency of the excited
αTAEs increases with increasing beam energy. The high
βp scenario with ITB on DIII-D has many of the desired properties of ITER steady-state. The
αTAEs in high
βp scenarios are also studied.