Open AccessThe physics of the mean and oscillating radial electric field in the L–H transition: the driving nature and turbulent transport suppression mechanism
Author(s) -
Tatsuya Kobayashi
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
nuclear fusion
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.774
H-Index - 120
eISSN - 1741-4326
pISSN - 0029-5515
DOI - 10.1088/1741-4326/ab7a67
Subject(s) - electric field , turbulence , physics , mechanism (biology) , mechanics , field (mathematics) , fusion , zonal flow (plasma) , statistical physics , plasma , tokamak , nuclear physics , quantum mechanics , linguistics , philosophy , mathematics , pure mathematics
The low-to-high confinement mode transition (L–H transition) is one of the key elements in achieving a self-sustained burning fusion reaction. Although there is no doubt that the mean and/or oscillating radial electric field plays a role in triggering and sustaining the edge transport barrier, the detailed underlying physics are yet to be unveiled. In this special topic paper, the remarkable progress achieved in recent years is reviewed for two different aspects: (i) the radial electric field driving procedure and (ii) the turbulent transport suppression mechanism. Experimental observations in different devices show possible conflicting natures for these phenomena, which cannot be resolved solely by conventional paradigms. New insights obtained by combining different model concepts successfully reconcile these conflicts.