Turbulence reduction in internal transport barriers on ASDEX Upgrade

A reduction in turbulent density fluctuations is observed in internal transport barrier (ITB) discharges in the ASDEX Upgrade tokamak with an L-mode edge and reversed magnetic shear. The turbulence reduction is localized spatially to around the ITB gradient and the ITB foot-point region, coincident with strong shearing in the toroidal rotation velocity. The radial extent and degree of reduction is related to the strength of the ITB. Strong (narrow and steep) ITBs are well localized and display greater turbulence reduction. Weaker ITBs are less localized with less reduction. The formation of a subsequent H-mode edge barrier moves the velocity shearing region to the edge and weakens the ITB to the point of extinction. During the ITB the turbulence is reduced across a broad frequency range, however a residual level of low-frequency fluctuations (f<10 kHz) remains. Comparison of linear growth and shearing rates suggest that E×B shear may be a factor in the turbulence reduction.