Internal transport barriers (ITBs) in the ion channel in the tokamak ASDEX Upgrade allow for high energy confinement but collapse after only several energy confinement times. In this paper we show that in most cases the ITB phase is terminated clearly before the first ELM burst, thereby ruling out the ELMs as the main trigger of the ITB collapse. For the first time, the ITB formation and sustainment are found to be associated with a mechanism of transport suppression based on thermal ions dilution by the injected fast ions. Interestingly, such ITBs do not require reversed magnetic shear. The linear growth rate of the ion temperature gradient driven mode is computed as a function of the fast ion fraction with gyrokinetic stability analysis. Monte Carlo simulations predict the fast ion population to be above the gyrokinetic critical fraction in a region consistent with the experimental ITB width. The density threshold documented for the onset of ASDEX Upgrade ion ITBs is explained. The role of Ti/Te and of the plasma sheared rotation for ITB sustainment are analysed. The stabilization mechanism presented here is consistent with the observed ITB lifetime of the order of the beam slowing down time. A possible runaway mechanism leading to ITB collapse is described. Finally, the relevance of this particular ITB scheme for ITER is discussed.
Formation criteria and positioning of internal transport barriers in ASDEX Upgrade