Internal kink mode dynamics in high-β NSTX plasmas

Saturated internal kink modes have been observed in many of the highest toroidal β discharges of the National Spherical Torus Experiment (NSTX). These modes often cause rotation flattening in the plasma core, can degrade fast-ion confinement and in some cases contribute to the complete loss of plasma angular momentum and stored energy. Characteristics of the modes are measured using soft x-ray, kinetic profile and magnetic diagnostics. Toroidal flows approaching Alfvénic speeds, island pressure peaking and enhanced viscous and diamagnetic effects associated with high-β may contribute to mode nonlinear stabilization. These saturation mechanisms are investigated for NSTX parameters and compared with experimental data.