Heat transport in tokamaks (such as DIII-D on the left) is thought to be controlled by turbulence associated with radial gradients in electron and ion temperature. We are preparing to make electron temperature fluctuation measurements on DIII-D using an electron cyclotron emission (ECE) radiometer (Graduate student: Anne White, in collaboration with Dr. Tony Peebles and Dr. Lothar Schmitz).

Temperature fluctuation measurements will be made using a correlation technique, where fluctuations in two closely spaced frequency ranges (and therefore in two closely spaced positions in the plasma) are correlated to determine the temperature fluctuation spectrum. We will explore temperature fluctuations in broadband turbulence in the core of DIII-D as well those arising due to Alfvén Eigenmodes and Neoclassical Tearing Modes.

We are also exploring instabilities, turbulence, and heat transport associated with filamentary temperature structure in LAPD (Graduate student: David Pace, in collaboration with Prof. George Morales and Dr. James Maggs).

This work will extend earlier work led by Prof. Morales, Dr. Maggs and their students. In particular, we are focusing on the transition from coherent drift-Alfvén waves to turbulence, on the role of flow, and on intermittent temperature fluctuations.

For information on other plasma physics research activities at UCLA, visit the Plasma Science and Technology Institute website.

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