Features of the repetition frequency of edge localized modes in EAST

Abstract

This paper presents the features of the edge localized modes (ELMs) observed in the 2010 experimental campaign on the Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST). The first high-confinement mode (H-mode) at an H-factor of HIPB98(y, 2)∼ 1 has been obtained with about 1 MW lower hybrid wave (LHW) heating power on the EAST tokamak. The ELMs in EAST are Type III ELMs with high frequency (several hundred Hertz) and low amplitude. ELM features for the following two types of EAST discharges are investigated: discharges with only LHW and those with both LHW and ion cyclotron resonance frequency (ICRF) wave. The ELMs are observed in a wide q 95 window ranging from 2.6 to 5.0, and the ELM frequencies decrease with the safety factor, q 95. In contrast to most observations, the ELM frequency in EAST appears to be weakly proportional to the power through the separatrix. When the ICRF wave is injected, the ELM frequency increases. The control of the ELM frequency and amplitude has been achieved by puffing impure argon gas into the EAST discharge.