Azimuthal non-uniformities induced by ICH and ECH in the RFC-XX mirror plasma

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Abstract
The loss flux to an azimuthally segmented limiter in the central cell of the cusp end cell stabilized, axisymmetric mirror machine, RFC-XX, shows that non-axisymmetric illumination by either ICH or ECH can induce azimuthal non-uniformities in the plasma. Measurements of the floating potential in the vicinity of the limiter and by the limiter itself suggest that a large stationary azimuthal electric field is induced which can convectively transport plasma across magnetic field lines. The local radial component of the electric drift velocity is as large as 7 × 104 cms−1. Examinatio n of the plasma end loss versus azimuth and probe measurements deep in the plasma show that the non-uniformities extend into the plasma and are not localized near the outer boundary. The data suggest that the RF fields are driving an anomalous radial loss.