Role of parallel flow in the improved mode on the STOR-M tokamak

Phys Rev Lett. 2002 May 6;88(18):185001. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.88.185001. Epub 2002 Apr 17.

Abstract

A novel feature of the H-mode induced by compact torus injection on the STOR-M tokamak is observed. There is almost no change in the radial electric field profiles during and after the L-H transition. The usual hypothesis of the E x B shear stabilization mechanism is therefore unlikely to play a role in this transition. A new mechanism of the stabilization of microinstabilities by parallel flow is suggested as the plausible cause for the transition to this improved regime.