L–H transition and pedestal studies on MAST

On MAST studies of the profile evolution of the electron temperature (Te), electron density (ne), radial electric field (Er) as well as novel measurements of the ion temperature (Ti) and toroidal current density (jϕ) in the pedestal region allow further insight into the processes forming and defining the pedestal such as the H-mode access conditions and MHD stability. This includes studies of fast evolution of Te, ne and Er with Δt = 0.2 ms time resolution and the evolution of pe and jϕ through an edge-localized mode (ELM) cycle. Measurements of the H-mode power threshold, PL−H revealed that about 40% more power is required to access H-mode in 4He than in D and that a change in the Z-position of the X-point can change PL−H significantly in single and double null configurations. The profile measurements in the L-mode phase prior to H-mode suggest that neither the gradient nor the value of the mean Te or Er at the plasma edge play a major role in triggering the L–H transition. After the transitions, first the fluctuations are suppressed, then the Er shear layer and the ne pedestal develops followed by the Te pedestal. In the banana regime at low collisionality (ν⋆) ∇Ti ≈ 0 leading to Ti > Te in the pedestal region with Ti ∼ 0.3 keV close to the separatrix. A clear correlation of ∇Ti with ν⋆ is observed. The measured jϕ (using the motional Stark effect) Te and ne are in broad agreement with the common peeling–ballooning stability picture for ELMs and neoclassical calculations of the bootstrap current. The jϕ and ∇pe evolution Δt ≈ 2 ms as well as profiles in discharges with counter current neutral beam injection raise questions with respect to this edge stability picture.