The JET 2019-2020 scientific and technological programme exploited the results of years of concerted scientific and engineering work, including the ITER-like wall (ILW: Be wall and W divertor) installed in 2010, improved diagnostic capabilities now fully available, a major Neutral Beam Injection (NBI) upgrade providing record power in 2019-2020, and tested the technical & procedural preparation for safe operation with tritium. Research along three complementary axes yielded a wealth of new results. Firstly, the JET plasma programme delivered scenarios suitable for high fusion power and alpha particle physics in the coming D-T campaign (DTE2), with record sustained neutron rates, as well as plasmas for clarifying the impact of isotope mass on plasma core, edge and plasma-wall interactions, and for ITER pre-fusion power operation. The efficacy of the newly installed Shattered Pellet Injector for mitigating disruption forces and runaway electrons was demonstrated. Secondly, research on the consequences of long-term exposure to JET-ILW plasma was completed, with emphasis on wall damage and fuel retention, and with analyses of wall materials and dust particles that will help validate assumptions and codes for design & operation of ITER and DEMO. Thirdly, the nuclear technology programme aiming to deliver maximum technological return from operations in D, T and D-T benefited from the highest D-D neutron yield in years, securing results for validating radiation transport and activation codes, and nuclear data for ITER.

Alpha particles with energies on the order of megaelectronvolts will be the main source of plasma heating in future magnetic confinement fusion reactors. Instead of heating fuel ions, most of the energy of alpha particles is transferred to electrons in the plasma. Furthermore, alpha particles can also excite Alfvénic instabilities, which were previously considered to be detrimental to the performance of the fusion device. Here we report improved thermal ion confinement in the presence of megaelectronvolts ions and strong fast ion-driven Alfvénic instabilities in recent experiments on the Joint European Torus. Detailed transport analysis of these experiments reveals turbulence suppression through a complex multi-scale mechanism that generates large-scale zonal flows. This holds promise for more economical operation of fusion reactors with dominant alpha particle heating and ultimately cheaper fusion electricity.

Abstract-Torsional oscillations greatly affect performance and determine the bandwidth (BW) and damping of speed loops. Backlash due to gear reducers can also contribute to the triggering of oscillations, especially when the drive runs at very low load torque. This paper presents a detailed evaluation of these effects in typical electromechanical drive trains applied to paper machine sections. The cases evaluated consider torsional oscillations in two-mass and three-mass systems, and the effect of shaft diameter and length on the resonant frequencies of three typical paper machine sections. Time-domain response plots are evaluated to show the effect of speed response overshoot, reducer backlash, and step or ramp speed commands. Based on these results, mechanical design guidelines are given for the most significant drive train components in order to minimize torsional oscillations of the speed-controlled drive system.

Torsional oscillations greatly affect performance and determine the bandwidth (BW) and damping of speed loops. Backlash due to gear reducers can also contribute to the triggering of oscillations, especially when the drive runs at very low load torque. This paper presents a detailed evaluation of these effects in typical electromechanical drive trains applied to paper machine sections. The cases evaluated consider torsional oscillations in two-mass and three-mass systems, and the effect of shaft diameter and length on the resonant frequencies of three typical paper machine sections. Time-domain response plots are evaluated to show the effect of speed response overshoot, reducer backlash, and step or ramp speed commands. Based on these results, mechanical design guidelines are given for the most significant drive train components in order to minimize torsional oscillations of the speed-controlled drive system.