Neutron production in NBI-ECRH scenario during the current ramp-up in EAST

The mechanisms of neutron production were investigated during the current ramp-up phase on the EAST, using a combination of Neutral Beam Injection (NBI) and Electron Cyclotron Resonance Heating (ECRH) methodologies. Simulation tools such as ONETWO and TRANSP are employed to model the evolution of neutron yields under dynamic operational conditions, including NBI and ECRH power injection, plasma current and line-averaged electron density. The application of pure ECRH contributes to minimal neutron yield, attributed to limited enhancement of ion temperature. In contrast, the introduction of NBI substantially augments neutron yield, primarily through beam-target and beam-beam interactions. The former is strongly influenced by the synergistic effects of combined NBI-ECRH. Simulations display a peak neutron yield of 9.8×10¹⁴s⁻¹ for the current EAST-NBI system, exceeding previous predictions owing to enhanced heating efficiency. Simulations predict a 50% increase in total neutron yield upon implementation of upgraded NBI system, characterized by 120keV dual-source operation. This work elucidates the underlying physics of neutron yield enhancements and provides critical insights into optimizing auxiliary heating scenarios for future fusion devices, shedding light on neutron emission and fusion reactions dynamics in next-generation fusion reactors.