The behaviour of the density profiles in ASDEX Upgrade can be described well with the assumption D ∝ χ and a pinch of the order of the neoclassical Ware pinch. The latter is estimated from slowly equilibrating density profiles. The assumption D ∝ χ has been succesfully tested by varying the heat deposition profile, making use of on-/off-axis ICRH and ECRH: due to the generally observed self-similarity of the temperature profile, such variations in the heat flux profile have a strong effect on the χ-profile and on the D-profile if the above assumption is correct. The corresponding variations in the density profiles have indeed been observed. The model is also capable of describing the decay of the density profile after injecting a train of pellets. The anomalous transport of impurities is also increased with central heating, and the corresponding flattening of the density profile leads to a significant reduction of the neoclassical impurity pinch. Central ICR or ECR heating are therefore now routinely used to control density peaking and its negative effect on the stability of neoclassical tearing modes as well as to control the impurity transport in ASDEX Upgrade.
Temporally resolved analysis of the response of density and temperature to modulated central electron heating on ASDEX Upgrade