Role of low order rational -values in the ITB events in JT-60U reverse shear plasmas

Neudatchin, S. V.*; Takizuka, Tomonori; Hayashi, Nobuhiko; Isayama, Akihiko; Shirai, Hiroshi; Fujita, Takaaki; Kamada, Yutaka; Koide, Yoshihiko; Suzuki, Takahiro

The formation of internal transport barriers (ITBs) near q=3 surfaces in normal shear (NrS) discharges of JT-60U is known. In reverse shear (RS) JT-60U plasmas, the role of q minimum (qmin) equal to 3.5,3,2.5,2 was not obvious for ITB formation. ITB-events (non-local confinement bifurcations inside and around ITB) are found in various NrS and RS plasmas. Under sufficient heating power, ITB-events are seen at rational and not rational values of qmin. The space-time evolution of Te and Ti is similar, suggesting the same mechanism of Te and Ti transport. The temporal formation of strong ITB under passing of qmin=3 (after periodical improvements and degradations via ITB-events) in RS mode is presented. Under smaller power, ITB-events are observed only at rational values of qmin. In a weak RS shot, abrupt rise of Te is seen at qmin=3.5, while more cases of Ti rise are observed. The difference of Te and Ti evolutions seen regularly under the low power, suggests decoupling of Te and Ti transport.