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(EX7/5) Experimental Investigation of ITG-like Turbulence Characteristics in T-10 Tokamak Core Plasma with Toroidal and Poloidal Correlation Reflectometry

V. A. Vershkov, S. V. Soldatov, D. A. Shelukhin, V. V. Chistyakov

Russian Research Center ``Kurchatov Institute'' 123182 Moscow, Russia

Abstract.  The physical mechanisms of small-scale density fluctuations in the frequency range 5 - 500 kHz have been investigated with correlation reflectometry in different types of ohmicaly heated discharges. A temporal formation of velocity shear in the central region of plasma column during the discharge transition from Saturated to Improved Ohmic Confinement results in suppression of long wavelength quasi-coherent turbulence, while the amplitude of fluctuations with shorter wavelength is not affected. The potential of correlation reflectometry was extended by simultaneous plasma probing from Low Field Side and High Field Side. A factor of 5 enhancement of quasi-coherent turbulence at Low Field Side was measured, while the other turbulence type is poloidally symmetrical. Nearly 100 % long distance toroidal correlation was observed for quasi-coherent density fluctuations at a distance of 10 meter after one turn around tokamak major axis. Fluctuations propagate at an angle of about 0.5 owith respect to the perpendicular to the magnetic field line, proving a drift mechanism of turbulence. A plasma rotation was estimated from the radial force balance equation for ions with the radial electric field, measured with heavy ion beam probe diagnostic. A comparison of the calculated plasma rotation with measured turbulence one show that the turbulence rotates in ion diamagnetic drift direction in a plasma frame. All experimental observations are consistent with Toroidal and Slab ITG turbulence physical mechanism.

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IAEA 2001