Role of convective amplification of n = 1 energetic particle modes for N-NB ion dynamics in JT-60U

The hybrid code MEGA is used to simulate an abrupt large-amplitude event (ALE) in JT-60U shot E039672 that was strongly driven by a pair of negative-ion-based neutral beams (N-NBs). This configuration is known to be unstable to energetic particle modes (EPMs) with toroidal mode number n = 1. The purpose of this study is to look for a threshold with respect to the on-axis fast ion beta value, βh0, beyond which the EPM undergoes convective amplification (CA) and causes significant fast ion transport. This is motivated by the hypothesis that such a threshold may work as a trigger mechanism for relaxation events, such as ALE. In order to facilitate quantitative comparisons with the experiment, a realistic geometry and bulk pressure is used. Furthermore, MEGA is initialized with a fast ion distribution computed for JT-60U by an orbit-following Monte-Carlo code, and a passive vacuum region allows particles to travel without encountering artificial loss boundaries. Consistently with the experiment, the simulation predicts a burst time of about 0.3 ms and peak magnetic fluctuation levels around δBϑ/B < 10−3 at the plasma boundary. As βh0 is increased, a gradual increase in the CA of the EPM and in the convective transport of both resonant and nonresonant particles is found. The absence of a sharp transition between low- and high-amplitude fluctuations leads to the conclusion that the onset of CA does not suffice as a trigger mechanism for ALE.