Role of isotope mass and evidence of fluctuating zonal flows during the L–H transition in the TJ-II stellarator. (10th May 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Losada, U; Estrada, T; Liu, B; van Milligen, B; Cheng, J; Silva, C; Pastor, I; Fontdecaba, J M; Hidalgo, C
• Other Names: collab.
• Is Part Of: Plasma physics and controlled fusion. Volume 60:Number 7(2018:Jul.)
• Publication Date: 2018-05-10
• Subjects: isotope effect -- L–H transition -- zonal flows -- Langmuir probes -- 3D configurations -- radial electric field; Plasma (Ionized gases) -- Periodicals; Controlled fusion -- Periodicals; 530.44
• DOI: 10.1088/1361-6587/aac069
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0741-3335

Abstract

Abstract: Mean radial electric fields as well as low frequency Zonal Flow-like global oscillations in radial electric field have been identified during the low to high (L–H) transition in Hydrogen and Deuterium dominated plasmas in the stellarator TJ-II. No evidence of isotope effect on the L–H transition dynamics was observed in the investigated TJ-II plasma scenarios. These observations emphasize the critical role of both zero frequency (equilibrium) and low frequency varying large-scale flows for stabilizing turbulence during the triggering of the L–H transition in magnetically confined toroidal plasmas.