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E × B Plasma Rotation and n = 1 Oscillation Observed in the NSTX-CHI Experiments

Masayoshi NAGATA, Roger RAMAN¹⁾, Vlad SOUKHANOVSKII²⁾, Brian A. NELSON¹⁾, Ronald E. BELL³⁾, Dennis MUELLER³⁾, Thomas R. JARBOE¹⁾, Michael G. BELL³⁾ and the NSTX Research Team³⁾

University of Hyogo

1)

University of Washington

2)

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

3)

Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory

(Received 24 April 2007 / Accepted 13 June 2007 / Published 12 July 2007)

Abstract

In the National Spherical Torus Experiment (NSTX), a peak plasma current up to 390 kA has been successfully generated by the Coaxial Helicity Injection (CHI) current drive method. The plasma rotation (∼ 20 km/s) driven in the E × B toroidal direction by CHI has been clearly identified by an ion Doppler spectroscopic measurement. The n = 1 mode has been also observed to rotate in the same direction. This rotating kink behavior observed for the first time in NSTX is consistent with the electron locking model developed in the Helicity Injected Torus-II (HIT-II) experiments to explain the mechanism of CHI current drive.

Copyright (c) 2007 The Japan Society of Plasma Science and Nuclear Fusion Research

Keywords

coaxial helicity injection, ion Doppler spectroscopy, E × B plasma rotation, n = 1 mode

DOI: 10.1585/pfr.2.035

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References

• [1] T.R. Jarboe et al., Nucl. Fusion 41, 679 (2001).
• [2] M. Nagata et al., Phys. Plasmas 10, 2932 (2003).
• [3] H.S. McLean et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 88, 125004 (2002).
• [4] R. Raman et al., Plasma Phys Cont. Fusion 43, 305 (2001).
• [5] M. Ono et al., Nucl. Fusion 40, 557 (2000).

This paper may be cited as follows:

Masayoshi NAGATA, Roger RAMAN, Vlad SOUKHANOVSKII, Brian A. NELSON, Ronald E. BELL, Dennis MUELLER, Thomas R. JARBOE, Michael G. BELL and the NSTX Research Team, Plasma Fusion Res. 2, 035 (2007).