Physics Design Guidelines for Estimating Plasma Performance in a Burning Plasma Experiment (FIRE)

The physics design guidelines for a next step, high-field tokamak, burning plasma experiment (FIRE, Fusion Ignition Research Experiment) have been developed as an update of the ITER Physics Basis (IPB) [NF 39, 2137, 1999]. The IPB represented a comprehensive account of the scientific knowledge, existed as of mid-1998, relevant to the design of a reactor-scale tokamak. Physics design guidelines and methodologies for projecting plasma performance in FIRE or in any reactor-class tokamaks are developed from extrapolations of various characterization of the IPB database for tokamak operation and of the understanding that its interpretation provides for both conventional and advanced tokamak operating modes. The plasma performance attainable in FIRE (or any reactor) is affected by many physics issues, including energy confinement, L-to-H-mode power transition thresholds, MHD stability/beta limit, density limit, helium accumulation/removal, impurity content, sawtooth effects, etc. Design basis and guidelines will be provided in each of these areas, along with sensitivities and/or uncertainties involved.