Spatiotemporal Dynamics of Fast Electron Beams during a Disruption in the T-10 Tokamak

Abstract

Results are presented from experimental studies of fast electrons in modes with disruption instability in the T-10 tokamak. The spatiotemporal dynamics of electron beams is investigated using two sets of cadmium telluride detectors and tomographic recovery of the intensity of suprathermal X-ray emission (E_γ ~ 15–300 keV). Generation of fast electron beams in the central zone of the plasma column in the initial stage of disruption in the T-10 tokamak is established. Analysis of suprathermal X-ray bursts during the development of disruption indicates spatial inhomogeneity of fast electron beams. The characteristic repetition frequency and duration of X-ray bursts are f ~ 2.5–3 kHz and Δt ~ 5 ms, respectively. Analysis of the experimental results shows that oscillations of the X-ray intensity may be related to the filamentation of fast electron beams.