Core poloidal rotation and internal transport barrier formation in TFTR

Abstract

Impurity poloidal rotation velocities have been measured in the core of TFTR plasmas using a new spectroscopic diagnostic. Two types of transition to enhanced confinement in reversed shear plasmas are examined. A bifurcation in carbon poloidal rotation is observed to occur before the transition to enhanced confinement for one of these types, while other measured plasma parameters remain constant. A narrow radial region with reversed poloidal rotation and rotational shear is established 60-100 ms before the transition and is associated with a large negative radial electric field.