A comparison of edge turbulence in tokamaks, stellarators, and reversed-field pinches*

Abstract

Edge equilibrium, turbulence and transport related plasma parameters from the Advanced Toroidal Facility (ATF) [Fusion Technol. 10, 179 (1986)] torsatron, the ZT-40M [Fusion Technol. 8, 1571 (1985)] reversed-field pinch, the Phaedrus-T [Nucl. Fusion 32, 2040 (1992)] tokamak, the Texas Experimental Tokamak (TEXT) [Nucl. Technol. Fusion 1, 479 (1981)], and the Tokamak Fusion Test Reactor (TFTR) [in Plasma Physics and Controlled Nuclear Fusion Research, 1990 (International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna, 1991), Vol. 1, p. 9] have been obtained using a standardized Langmuir probe array and a consistent set of data analysis packages. Additional data from some other devices have also been furnished via private communications and incorporated from published results. Experimental results over a wide range of parameters are compared and the turbulence contribution to edge transport are assessed. Certain physical properties that are relevant to the modeling of edge turbulence are identified: namely, shear decorrelation of turbulence, the role of resistive dissipation and electron parallel thermal conduction, radial mode structure in sheared magnetic field, and electromagnetic contribution to the parallel Ohm’s law.