Overview on the progress of tokamak experimental research in China

Tokamak experimental research in China has made important progress. The mai n efforts were related to quasi-steady-state operation, LHCD, plasma heatin g with ICRF, IBW, NBI and ECRH, fuelling with pellets and supersonic molecu lar beams, and first wall conditioning techniques. Plasma parameters in the experiments were much improved, for example n(e) = 8 x 10(19) m(-3) and a plasma pulse length of > 10 s were achieved. ICRF boronization and conditio ning resulted in Z(eff) close to unity. Steady state full LH wave current d rive has been achieved for more than 3 s. LHCD ramp-up and recharge have al so been demonstrated. The best eta (exp)(CD) approximate to 0.5(1 + 0.085 e xp(4.8(B-T - CD, 1.45)))n(e)I(CD)R(p)/P-LH = 10(19) m(-2) A W-1. Quasi-stea dy-state H-mode-like plasmas with a density close to the Greenwald limit we re obtained by LHCD, where the energy confinement time was nearly five time s longer than in the ohmic case. The synergy between IBW, pellet and LHCD w as tested. Research on the mechanism of macroturbulence has been extensivel y carried out experimentally. AC tokamak operation has been successfully de monstrated.