Turbulent Transport Reduction and Randomization of Coherent Fluctuations by Zonal Flows in Toroidal Plasma

Fluctuation-driven particle flux is greatly reduced in the plasma radial region where zonal flows are present in the H-1 toroidal heliac. This occurs without reduction in the fluctuation level. Statistical properties of fluctuations are significantly modified in this region. It is shown that the randomization of phases of coherent structures by zonal flows is responsible for the observed effect. This mechanism of transport reduction complements theoretically predicted random shearing of turbulence by zonal flows and does not require the fluctuations suppression.