Core Transport Improvement during Poloidal Current Drive in the RFX Reversed Field Pinch

R. Bartiromo; P. Martin; S. Martini; T. Bolzonella; A. Canton; P. Innocente; L. Marrelli; A. Murari; R. Pasqualotto

doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.82.1462

Core Transport Improvement during Poloidal Current Drive in the RFX Reversed Field Pinch

R. Bartiromo, P. Martin, S. Martini, T. Bolzonella, A. Canton, P. Innocente, L. Marrelli, A. Murari, and R. Pasqualotto

Phys. Rev. Lett. 82, 1462 – Published 15 February 1999

Abstract

We describe plasma profiles evolution during pulsed poloidal current drive experiments performed with the RFX reversed field pinch device. With external drive of edge poloidal current, magnetic fluctuations are reduced suggesting a concomitant reduction of the spontaneous dynamo action. The electron temperature profile is seen to peak in the plasma core, consistently with a reduction of the heat conductivity due to a substantial decrease of MHD dynamo fluctuations. Our results also indicate that the magnetic turbulence due to these fluctuations, which dominates heat transport in the core of the reverse field pinch configuration, does not drive an appreciable heat flux at the edge.

Received 23 July 1998

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.82.1462

Authors & Affiliations

R. Bartiromo¹, P. Martin^1,2, S. Martini¹, T. Bolzonella^1,2, A. Canton^1,2, P. Innocente¹, L. Marrelli¹, A. Murari¹, and R. Pasqualotto¹

¹Consorzio RFX, Corso Stati Uniti 4, 35127 Padova, Italy
²Istituto Nazionale di Fisica della Materia–Physics and Electrical Engineering Departments, University of Padova, Padova, Italy