Experimental Investigation of the Role of Fluid Turbulent Stresses and Edge Plasma Flows for Intrinsic Rotation Generation in DIII-D H-Mode Plasmas

Journal Article · Fri Mar 18 04:00:00 EDT 2011 · Physical Review Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PHYSREVLETT.106.115001· OSTI ID:21562103

Mueller, S H ^[1]; Boedo, J A; Moyer, R A; Rudakov, D L ^[2]; Burrell, K H; Grassie, J S. de ^[3]; Solomon, W M ^[4]

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1. Center for Energy Research, University of California of San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, M/C 0417, La Jolla, California 92093 (United States); Center for Momentum Transport and Flow Organization (United States)
2. Center for Energy Research, University of California of San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, M/C 0417, La Jolla, California 92093 (United States)
3. General Atomics, P.O. Box 85608, San Diego, California 92186-5608 (United States)
4. Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, P.O. Box 451, Princeton, New Jersey 08543-0451 (United States)

The first measurements of turbulent stresses and flows inside the separatrix of a tokamak H-mode plasma are reported, using a reciprocating multitip Langmuir probe at the DIII-D tokamak. A strong co-current rotation layer at the separatrix is found to precede intrinsic rotation development in the core. The measured fluid turbulent stresses transport toroidal momentum outward against the velocity gradient and thus try to sustain the edge layer. However, large kinetic stresses must exist to explain the net inward momentum transport leading to co-current core plasma rotation. The importance of such kinetic stresses is corroborated by the success of a simple orbit loss model, representing a purely kinetic mechanism, in the prediction of features of the edge corotation layer.

• OSTI ID: 21562103
• Journal Information: Physical Review Letters, Journal Name: Physical Review Letters Journal Issue: 11 Vol. 106; ISSN 0031-9007; ISSN PRLTAO
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
CLOSED PLASMA DEVICES
CONFINEMENT
DOUBLET-3 DEVICE
ELECTRIC PROBES
FLUIDS
H-MODE PLASMA CONFINEMENT
LANGMUIR PROBE
MAGNETIC CONFINEMENT
PLASMA
PLASMA CONFINEMENT
PROBES
STRESSES
THERMONUCLEAR DEVICES
TOKAMAK DEVICES
VELOCITY