Toroidal rotation as an explanation for plasma flow observations in the Alcator C-Mod scrape-off layer

Parallel and E x B plasma flows near the separatrix on the outside midplane of Alcator C-Mod are investigated with a scanning probe for a range plasma densities, currents, and magnetic fields. Strong parallel flows (up to Mach 0.6) are found to peak similar to2 rum into the scrape-off layer (SOL), reverse nearly symmetrically with magnetic field reversal, and decrease in magnitude with increasing line-averaged density normalized to the Greenwald density. E x B flows in the SOL inferred from the poloidal propagation velocity of plasma fluctuations appear to compensate these parallel flows and scale similarly, i.e., the dominant flow pattern is a pure toroidal rotation. E x B flows inferred by p robe-sheath potentials are generally smaller, exhibit more scatter, and do not scale the same, perhaps indicating a less reliable measurement. These measurements suggest a residual poloidal flow (along field lines) of similar to0.2 to similar to1 times the electron diamagnetic velocity, depending on plasma conditions. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.