UC Irvine

Fusion energy research is working toward the goal of using fusion as a source of clean energy. Since energetic particles are the main source of heating in current and future devices, understanding fast ion transport and loss mechanisms is vital. Experimental research in this thesis uses two main fast ion diagnostics, the fast ion loss detector and the imaging neutral particle analyzer, to discern how energetic particles are transported in the presence of various magnetic perturbations. First, fast ion losses in the presence of externally applied, 3D magnetic fields are analyzed. Second, transport of confined particles and simultaneous losses are observed and discussed in the presence of a neoclassical tearing mode. Lastly, work on intermittent fast ion losses in the presence of multiple Alfven Eigenmodes is observed.