The ITER baseline scenario on JET in D-T with Neon seeding

The Joint European Torus (JET) devoted the last years of its operations to investigating key physics aspects in support of future ITER operations [1, 2]. During the last deuterium and deuterium-tritium campaigns, JET developed and optimized the Integrated Scenario [3], also known as the ITER baseline scenario, designed to operate at high plasma current, high triangularity, and in a divertor configuration to achieve partial detachment through Neon seeding [4, 5]. During the DTE3 campaign the Scientific Team dedicated a significant number of experiments in optimising the stationarity of the scenario by varying the nominal fuelling rate and the Neon seeding rate. Here we present the integrated modelling of 3.0 MA pulses performed with the JINTRAC suite of codes [6] equipped with the reduced first-principle transport model QuaLiKiz [7]. In this predictive-interpretative transport analysis, the plasma current diffusion profile, electron and ion temperature profiles, main ion density profiles, and impurity density profiles (i.e. Be, Ne, Ni and W) are predicted. The boundary conditions are imposed at the separatrix, with the pedestal region being modelled using ELM-averaged transport coefficients to match the experimental pedestal. This approach allows to obtain ELM-averaged transport coefficients and the corresponding ionization sources that are compatible with the core transport predicted by reduced first-principle transport models. Using a systematic approach devised for D-T plasmas, from an unseeded pulse [8] we model two Ne seeded pulses, characterized by different Ne concentration. The focus is on assessing the interplay between particle sources and average pedestal transport, along with the effects of impurities, which impact both dilution, transport and radiative losses. In an integrated fashion, the plasma kinetic profiles in the core are predicted, while the average pedestal transport is tuned to match experimental pedestal measurements, imposing realistic ionization sources. The sensitivity of the model to these assumed sources is explored in an effort to reproduce the experimental plasma performance and neutron yield, accounting for the effects of dilution and D-T ratio. References [1] C. F. Maggi et al. 2024 Nucl. Fusion 64 112012. [2] A. Kappatou et al. submitted to Plasma Phys. Control. Fusion [3] I. S. Carvalho et al “Neon seeded ITER baseline scenario experiments in JET D and D-T plasmas” (50th EPS 2024). [4] C. Giroud et al. 2024 Nucl. Fusion 64 106062. [5] C. Giroud et al “High current Ne-seeded ITER baseline scenario in JET D and D-T” (26th PSI 2024). [6] M. Romanelli et al 2014 Plasma Fusion Res. 9 3403023. [7] C. Bourdelle et al 2016 Plasma Phys. Control. Fusion 58 014036. [8] V. K. Zotta et al “Predictive modelling of JET baseline scenarios from DTE2 towards DTE3” (50th EPS 2024).