Abstract
In this paper, we report observations of reduced core (0.40<ρ<0. 95) fluctuations in the edge localized mode (ELM)-free high-confinement regime, I-mode, at Alcator C-Mod (Marmar et al2009 Nucl. Fusion 49 104014). Long wavelength (kθρs<0.5) density fluctuation levels are observed to decrease from L-mode levels by up to 30% in I-mode, while long wavelength (kθρs<0.3) electron temperature fluctuation levels are observed to decrease by up to 70% in I-mode. This reduction in core turbulence is correlated with the increases in confinement in I-mode compared to L-mode. As the pedestal temperature increases across the L-I transition, core density fluctuations (0.40<ρ<0.95) are reduced prior to the onset of the edge-localized (ρ∼0.99-1.0) weakly coherent mode (WCM) and prior to the reduction of low-frequency (ρ∼0.99-1.0) turbulence in the edge/pedestal region. This result helps add to our understanding of the dynamics of confinement transitions such as I-mode and H-mode, where changes in edge turbulence are more typically observed to occur prior to changes in core turbulence.
Original language | English (US) |
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Article number | 083019 |
Journal | Nuclear Fusion |
Volume | 54 |
Issue number | 8 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Aug 1 2014 |
Externally published | Yes |
All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Nuclear and High Energy Physics
- Condensed Matter Physics
Keywords
- H-mode
- I-mode
- confinement transition
- core transport
- core turbulence
- edge turbulence