Observation of plasma flow at the magnetic island in the large helical device

Phys Rev Lett. 2002 Jan 7;88(1):015002. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.88.015002. Epub 2001 Dec 20.

Abstract

Radial profiles of ion temperature and plasma flow are measured at the n/m = 1/1 magnetic island produced by external perturbation coils in the Large Helical Device. The sheared poloidal flows and sheared radial electric field are observed at the boundaries of the magnetic island, because the poloidal flow vanishes inside the static magnetic island. When the width of the magnetic island becomes large, the flow along the magnetic flux surface inside the magnetic island appears around the O point in the direction which reduces the shear of the poloidal flow at the boundary of the magnetic island.