Parallel and perpendicular structure of the edge turbulence in a three-dimensional magnetic field

• Published in: Plasma physics and controlled fusion Vol. 56; no. 9; pp. 95016 - 10
• Main Authors: Agostini, M, Scarin, P, Spizzo, G, Vianello, N, Carraro, L
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: IOP Publishing 01.09.2014
• Subjects: 3D magnetic field; Controlled fusion; edge blobs; edge fluctuations; Fluid dynamics; Fluid flow; Magnetic fields; plasma turbulence; RFP; Three dimensional; Topology; Turbulence; Turbulent flow; Valleys
• ISSN: 0741-3335; 1361-6587
• DOI: 10.1088/0741-3335/56/9/095016

Edge turbulence and blobs are studied in the three-dimensional magnetic topology of the RFX-mod reversed field pinch. The edge of the RFX-mod shows a three-dimensional structure dominated by a helical equilibrium with (1, −7) symmetry, which gives the same space-time modulation to all of the kinetic properties. The interaction between the edge turbulence and this magnetic topology is studied. It is shown that the edge blobs are current-carrying filaments aligned with the magnetic field, and in the perpendicular plane each blob is a positive peak of electron density and a valley of temperature. The inner nature of these blobs is not affected by the presence of the O and X points of the (1, −7) island; however, the statistical properties are sensitive to them, pointing to the influence of the magnetic topology on the edge fluctuations.