Density fluctuation phenomena in the scrape-off layer and edge plasma of the Wendelstein 7-AS stellarator

The fluctuation of electron density in the scrape-off layer (SOL) and edge plasma regions of the Wendelstein 7-AS stellarator [H. Renner , Plasma Phys Controlled Fusion 31, 1579 (1989)] is investigated by the beam emission spectroscopy technique, observing fluctuations in the Li(2p) line emission intensity of a 50 keV accelerated Li beam. A recently developed numerical technique enables correct reconstruction of correlation functions (and as a consequence, fluctuation amplitudes as well) of the electron density fluctuations from correlations of beam light fluctuations. Depending on the plasma electron density, the radial range of the measurement is either limited to r/a > 0.9 (at the highest densities) or can extend to about r/a > 0.3 at the lowest densities. As the technique is nonperturbing to the plasma, several hundred shots were analyzed and a catalog of the observed phenomena was established. The results always show a change in the properties of the fluctuations at approximately the last closed flux surface. This observation might indicate differences in the turbulence drive in the SOL and the edge plasma. However, one cannot exclude that the same turbulence phenomenon results in different density fluctuations in the two regions due to the different magnetic topologies. The relevance of the observed phenomena to anomalous transport is discussed. (C) 1999 American Institute of Physics. [S1070-664X(99)00711-9].