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Abstract

Research on the Alcator C-Mod tokamak [1] is focused on high particle- and power-density plasma regimes to understand particle and energy transport in the core, the
dynamics of the H-mode pedestal, and scrape-off layer and divertor physics. The auxiliary heating is provided exclusively by RF waves, and both the physics and technology of RF
heating and current drive are studied. The momentum which is manifested in strong toroidal rotation, in the absence of direct momentum input, has been shown to be transported in
from the edge of the plasma following the L–H transition, with timescale comparable to that for energy transport. In discharges which develop internal transport barriers, the
rotation slows first inside the barrier region, and then subsequently outside of the barrier foot. Heat pulse propagation studies using sawteeth indicate a very narrow region of
strongly reduced energy transport, located near r/a = 0.5. Addition of on-axis ICRF heating arrests the buildup of density and impurities, leading to quasi-steady conditions. The
quasi-coherent mode associated with enhanced D-Alpha (EDA) H-mode appears to be due to a resistive ballooning instability. As the pedestal pressure gradient and temperature
are increased in EDA H-mode, small ELMs appear; detailed modelling indicates that these are due to intermediate n peeling–ballooning modes. Phase contrast imaging has been
used to directly detect density fluctuations driven by ICRF waves in the core of the plasma, and mode conversion to an intermediate wavelength ion cyclotron wave has been
observed for the first time. The bursty turbulent density fluctuations, observed to drive rapid cross-field particle transport in the edge plasma, appear to play a key role in the
dynamics of the density limit. Preparations for quasi-steady-state advanced tokamak studies with lower hybrid current drive are well underway, and time dependent modelling
indicates that regimes with high bootstrap fraction can be produced.