Large amplitude quasi-stationary MHD modes in JET

Abstract

Oscillating MHD modes in JET are often observed to slow down as they grow and generally stop rotating (lock) when the amplitude exceeds a critical value, then continue to grow to large amplitudes (r/Bθ ∼ 1%). The mode can grow early in the current rise or after perturbations, such as a pellet injection or a large sawtooth collapse, and maintain a large amplitude throughout the remainder of the discharge. Such large amplitude quasistationary MHD modes can apparently have profound effects on the plasma, including stopping central ion plasma rotation, reducing the amplitude and changing the shape of sawteeth, flattening the temperature profile around resonant q surfaces and reducing the stored energy. Perhaps most important, large amplitude locked modes are precursors to most disruptions. Some large amplitude modes can be avoided by proper programming of the q evolution. The apparent reasons for the mode locking in a particular location are discussed and a comparison with theory is made.