Extending KSTAR operation regime for advanced operation scenario development

Suzuki, Takahiro; Kim, J. H.*; Na, Y. S.*; Ide, Shunsuke; Mueller, D.*; Miyata, Yoshiaki; Kim, H. S.*; Hahn, S. H.*; Yoon, S. W.*; Kim, W. C.*

We have started advanced operation scenario development in KSTAR in this campaign, which opens up a new research area directly connecting to ITER and DEMO. The advanced scenario, which has higher performance than the standard H-mode, typically possesses lower internal inductance li (safety factor q above unity without sawtooth). In conventional KSTAR operation scenarios, divertor configuration with high elongation is realized after or near the end of Ip ramp-up, where sawtooth activity starts during the ramp-up before entering into the higher performance phase. Thus, we need a new KSTAR operation scenario without sawtooth during the Ip ramp-up and with lower li than unity. Our idea is to delay the inductive current penetration by simultaneous EC&NB heating application into the full-bore divertor plasma during the Ip ramp-up as early as possible. After the optimization, we have successfully established a start-up scenario without sawtooth throughout the Ip ramp-up. In a shot 7897, high reaching an advanced scenario regime has been achieved in ELM-free H-mode () at .