ECH-assisted start-up using trapped particle configuration (TPC) is firstly studied in a superconducting, conventional tokamak, KSTAR. First, improved and efficient start-up using TPC than conventional field null configuration (FNC) is achieved by enhanced pre-ionization plasma quality. TPC shows the broader operation window in terms of the poloidal field quality and the deuterium prefill pressure than that of FNC. Surprisingly the particle trapping enhances the plasma start-up performance even with much lower particle trapping ratio than that of spherical torus. Reliability of TPC with low trapping ratio is investigated by 0D plasma evolution code, TECHP0D. Second, the characteristics of TPC start-up are explored with experiments and modellings. Two kind of start-up failure conditions are identified by the magnetic pitch and prefill pressure scan experiments: (i) low ionization rate; and (ii) low density condition. These experimental observation has consistency with TECHP0D modeling result. Finally, reliable ITER-relevant low toroidal electric field start-up using TPC is achieved with drastically improved success rate of start-up in KSTAR. In this experiments, validity of the ITER-like toroidally inclined ECH/ECCD injection is also expected. Time dependent ITER start-up scenario using TPC is proposed and the superiority of it than FNC is discussed.
Experimental study of ECH pre-ionization on J-TEXT