Edge Temperature Gradient as Intrinsic Rotation Drive in Alcator C-Mod Tokamak Plasmas

J.E. Rice , J.W. Hughes , P.H. Diamond , Y. Kosuga , Y.A. Podpaly , M.L. Reinke , M.J. Greenwald , Özgür D. Gürcan (1) , T.S. Hahm , A.E. Hubbard , E.S. Marmar , C.J. Mcdevitt , D.G. Whyte

1 LPP - Laboratoire de Physique des Plasmas

Intrinsic rotation has been observed in I-mode plasmas from the C-Mod tokamak, and is found to be similar to that in H mode, both in its edge origin and in the scaling with global pressure. Since both plasmas have similar edge ∇T, but completely different edge ∇n, it may be concluded that the drive of the intrinsic rotation is the edge ∇T rather than ∇P. Evidence suggests that the connection between gradients and rotation is the residual stress, and a scaling for the rotation from conversion of free energy to macroscopic flow is calculated.

Domaines: Physique des plasmas [physics.plasm-ph]

J.E. Rice, J.W. Hughes, P.H. Diamond, Y. Kosuga, Y.A. Podpaly, et al.. Edge Temperature Gradient as Intrinsic Rotation Drive in Alcator C-Mod Tokamak Plasmas. Physical Review Letters, 2011, 106, pp.215001. ⟨10.1103/PhysRevLett.106.215001⟩. ⟨hal-01550995⟩