Dynamic Behavior of Potential in the Plasma Core of the CHS Heliotron/Torsatron
- National Institute for Fusion Science Oroshi-cho, Toki-shi, Gifu, 509-52 (Japan)
- Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, ECSE Department, Troy, New York 12180-3590 (United States)
- RIAM, Kyushu University, Kasuga 816 (Japan)
During combined electron cyclotron and neutral beam heating, an abrupt drop and rise in potential by about one half of the central electron temperature ({approximately}400 V) was observed in the core of the compact helical system heliotron/torsatron plasma. Drastic changes of radial electric field between positive and negative states occur over periods as short as 60{mu} s, which is much shorter than the energy confinement time scale of about a few milliseconds. A nonlinear relation between the radial electric field and radial current is obtained. This is the first experimental observation of a microsecond time scale spontaneous transition based on an electric field bifurcation in toroidal helical plasmas. {copyright} {ital 1997} {ital The American Physical Society}
- OSTI ID:
- 548831
- Journal Information:
- Physical Review Letters, Journal Name: Physical Review Letters Journal Issue: 6 Vol. 79; ISSN 0031-9007; ISSN PRLTAO
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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