Coupled 2D MHD and runaway electron fluid simulations of SPARC disruptions

R. Datta, C. Clauser, N. Ferraro, C. Liu, R. Sweeney, R. A. Tinguely

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Runaway electrons (REs) generated during disruption events in tokamaks can carry mega-Ampère level currents, potentially causing damage to plasma-facing components. Understanding RE evolution during disruption events is important for evaluating strategies to mitigate RE damage. Using two-dimensional toroidally symmetric magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) simulations in M3D-C1, which incorporates a fluid RE model evolved self-consistently with the bulk MHD fluid, we examine the seeding and avalanching of REs during disruptions in the SPARC tokamak - a compact, high-field, high-current device designed to achieve a fusion gain Q > 2 in deuterium-tritium plasmas. The M3D-C1 simulations of unmitigated disruptions demonstrate RE plateau formation and peaking of the final current density, which agree well with the results of lower-fidelity reduced RE fluid models. This work provides the first systematic comparison and benchmarking of different primary sources, including activated tritium beta decay and Compton scattering, in SPARC disruption simulations with self-consistent MHD and RE coupling.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number082505
JournalPhysics of Plasmas
Volume32
Issue number8
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 1 2025

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Condensed Matter Physics

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