Role of zonal flow predator-prey oscillations in triggering the transition to H-mode confinement

Phys Rev Lett. 2012 Apr 13;108(15):155002. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.108.155002. Epub 2012 Apr 12.

Abstract

Direct evidence of zonal flow (ZF) predator-prey oscillations and the synergistic roles of ZF- and equilibrium E×B flow shear in triggering the low- to high-confinement (L- to H-mode) transition in the DIII-D tokamak is presented. Periodic turbulence suppression is first observed in a narrow layer at and just inside the separatrix when the shearing rate transiently exceeds the turbulence decorrelation rate. The final transition to H mode with sustained turbulence and transport reduction is controlled by equilibrium E×B shear due to the increasing ion pressure gradient.