THEORY OF SHEAR SUPPRESSION OF EDGE TURBULENCE BY EXTERNALLY DRIVEN RADIOFREQUENCY WAVES

Here, we propose and analyze a technique for active suppression of tokamak edge turbulence. Suppression occurs due to the effects of a sheared radial electric field generated by externally driven radio-frequency waves. Plasma flow is induced by radially varying wave-driven Reynolds and magnetic stresses, and opposed by neoclassical damping. For Alfvenic flow drive, the predicted shear flow profile is determined by ion inertia and electron dissipation effects. Results indicate that a modest amount of absorbed power is required for edge-turbulence suppression. More generally, several novel results in the theory of momentum transport by electromagnetic fluctuations are presented.