Impact of magnetic islands on plasma flow and turbulence in W7-X

TL;DR

This study investigates how magnetic islands influence plasma flow and turbulence in W7-X, revealing flow modifications at island boundaries and reduced density fluctuations near the island O-point, with implications for stellarator confinement.

Contribution

First experimental analysis of magnetic island effects on plasma flow and turbulence in W7-X using Doppler reflectometry, highlighting flow modifications and turbulence reduction.

Findings

Flow maxima at island boundaries

Flow near zero at island O-point

Reduced density fluctuations near the O-point

Abstract

The effect of magnetic islands on plasma flow and turbulence has been experimentally investigated in the stellarator W7-X. Magnetic configurations with the 5/5 magnetic island positioned at the plasma edge, inside the last closed flux surface, are studied. The main diagnostic used in the present work is a V-band Doppler reflectometer that allows the measurement of the perpendicular plasma flow and density fluctuations with good spatial resolution. A characteristic signature of the 5/5 magnetic island is clearly detected in the perpendicular flow profile. The comparison of the experimental flow and the neoclassically driven $E\times B$ flow indicates that the island contribution to the flow is maximum at the island boundaries and close to zero at the island O-point. Besides, a reduction in the density fluctuation level is found nearby the island O-point. The similarities between these observations and those found in other devices and in gyrokinetic simulations are discussed.