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H-mode transitions and limit cycle oscillations from mean field transport equations

Journal Article · · Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion
 [1];  [2]
  1. General Atomics, San Diego, CA (United States); General Atomics
  2. General Atomics, San Diego, CA (United States)
The mean field toroidal and parallel momentum transport equations will be shown to admit both onestep transitions to suppressed transport (L/H) and limit cycle oscillations (LCO). Both types of transitions are driven by the suppression of turbulence by the mean field ExB velocity shear. Using experimental data to evaluate the coefficients of a reduced transport model, the observed frequency of the LCO can be matched. The increase in the H-mode power threshold above and below a minimum density agrees with the trends in the model. Both leading and lagging phase relations between the turbulent density fluctuation amplitude and the ExB velocity shear can occur depending on the evolution of the linear growth rate of the turbulence. As a result, the transport solutions match the initial phase of the L/H transition where the poloidal and ExB velocities are observed to change, and the density fluctuations drop, faster than the diamagnetic velocity.
Research Organization:
General Atomics, San Diego, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Nuclear Energy (NE)
Grant/Contract Number:
FC02-04ER54698
OSTI ID:
1356339
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 22362737
Journal Information:
Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion, Journal Name: Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 57; ISSN 0741-3335
Publisher:
IOP ScienceCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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Stationary Zonal Flows during the Formation of the Edge Transport Barrier in the JET Tokamak journal February 2016