Self-Similarity of Edge Plasma Fluctuations in TEXTOR

Abstract

In TEXTOR the long-range time dependence of edge plasma fluctuations has been investigated. The results indicate that the tail of the autocorrelation function decays as a power law for time lags longer than the local decorrelation time. The frequency spectra of the fluctuations show similar features to those obtained in "sandpile" models. Using rescaled range (R/S) analysis techniques the self-similarity parameters have been estimated for the potential fluctuation data detected by Langmuir probes. The results show that the Hurst exponents are well above 0.5 over the self-similarity range at all the measured radial locations. All these facts reveal the self-similar character of the electrostatic fluctuations at the plasma edge of TEXTOR, consistent with plasma transport as characterized by self-organized criticality (SOC). Furthermore, we have analyzed in this respect discharges in which an edge transport barrier was created by means of edge biasing, hitherto limited to floating potential measurements in the scrape off layer outside the barrier region. The results show a decrease of fluctuating amplitudes, a reduction of decorrelation time of local turbulence and, surprisingly, a concomitant increase of the Hurst exponent. This result implies that the mechanisms governing the decorrelation of local turbulence may differ from those governing the decorrelation of SOC transport events.