Observation and characterization of the effect of electron cyclotron waves on toroidal rotation in EAST L-mode discharges

Abstract

The change in the toroidal rotation of plasma caused by electron cyclotron wave (ECW) injection has been observed in EAST. It is found that the response of the rotation is similar for all possible ECW toroidal injection angles. The core toroidal rotation velocity increases in the co-current direction along with a rise in the plasma temperature and stored energy. The profile of the electron temperature, ion temperature and toroidal rotation velocity gradually become peaked. The change in toroidal rotation in the core increases with the ECW injection power. Different behavior is observed when the ECWs are injected into low hybrid current drive (LHCD) target plasmas, where the electron temperature and rotation profile become peaked, while the ion temperature profile flattens after ECW injection, suggesting different transport characteristics in energy and momentum.