Anomalous particle transport and flow shear in the edge region of RFP's

Abstract The effect of the E × B velocity shear on the particle flux carried by electrostatic fluctuations at the edge is discussed comparing the results of the experiments T2R ( R =1.2 m, a =0.18 m) and RFX ( R =2 m, a =0.5 m). In both experiments electrostatic turbulence accounts for most of the particle flux. The shear of the E × B velocity is close or larger than the value required for turbulence suppression or reduction. Particle fluxes exhibit bursts which carry a large fraction of the total particle flux, and which tend to cluster during magnetic relaxation phase. On the average a Bohm estimate of the experimental plasma diffusivity accounts for the experimental data. Finally a discussion on the methods for turbulence control is given.