Velocity Fluctuations and Transport in the JET Boundary Region

Abstract

A new approach for turbulent fluxes and ωE×B measurements in the bulk plasma is proposed. It is based in the measurement of fluctuations in the phase velocity of fluctuations. The structure of turbulence has been investigated in the JET plasma boundary region with a fast reciprocating Langmuir probe system. Fluctuations in the radial and poloidal phase velocity have been computed from floating potential and ion saturation current measurements. The correlation between density fluctuations and fluctuations in the radial velocity of fluctuations signals show a good agreement with the turbulent transport computed from the correlation between density and poloidal electric field fluctuations. These results suggest that turbulent transport might be computed in the plasma core from measurement of density fluctuations. E×B sheared flows, both constant and varying in time, are close to the critical value to trigger the transition to improve confinement regimes below the power threshold to trigger the formation of transport barriers.