Empirical Similarity of Frequency Spectra of the Edge-Plasma Fluctuations in Toroidal Magnetic-Confinement Systems

Abstract

Frequency spectra of fluctuations of the ion saturation current, floating potential, and turbulent transport measured in the plasma edge of different fusion devices (tokamaks and stellarators) have been compared. All of the spectra show the same behavior over the whole frequency range investigated, which supports universality of plasma turbulence or turbulent transport. The results obtained are an indication of edge-plasma turbulence evolving into a critical state, independent of the size and plasma characteristics of the device.