EFDA-JET-CP(03)01/13

Plasma Rotation and Double Tearing Modes in High Density ITB Discharges

The extension of advanced tokamak scenarios towards densities close to the Greenwald value is important to demonstrate its reactor relevance. At JET a scenario for high-density Internal Transport Barriers (ITB) has been developed. Plasmas with a reversed magnetic shear were fuelled by pellets, creating a peaked density profile. Additional heating by NBI and ICRH caused a strong internal transport barrier to form in these plasmas. The density and temperature gradients due to the transport barrier cause a large bootstrap current fraction that helps to sustain the shear reversal. Discharges in JET with a negative central magnetic shear often feature temporal collapses of the internal transport barrier that are attributed to double tearing modes. It is known that rotational shear has a stabilising effect on these modes. The high density and consequential low plasma rotation may have a destabilising effect on these modes. The paper addresses the stability of high-density discharges and gives a detailed description of the MHD characteristics and its influence on the plasma rotation.
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EFDC030113 1.12 Mb