Transport barrier formation by LHCD on TRIAM-1M

Abstract

Internal transport barrier (ITB) has been obtained in full lower hybrid current driven (LHCD) plasmas on a superconducting tokamak, TRIMA-1M (R=0.84m, a x b=0.12mx0.18m, BT<8T). The formation of ITB depends on the current density profile, j(r), varied by the power deposition of the lower hybrid (LH). The plasma with ITB can be maintained by the LH power deposited around the foot point of ITB up to 25 sec, which corresponds to more than 100 times of current diffusion time, $τ$L/R. ITB is terminated by the reduction of current drive efficiency caused by metal impurities accumulation. In some condition, self-organized slow sawtooth oscillations (SSSO) of plasma current, density, temperature, and so on with the period comparable to the current diffusion time have been also observed during ITB discharge. The oscillation has the capability of particle exhaust, as the result, it may play an role in the avoidance of the impurity accumulation and the dilution in the future steady state fusion plasma with ITB, as the edge-localized mode in H-mode.