Effect of resonant magnetic perturbations on edge plasma parameters in the STOR-M tokamak

Edge plasma properties have been modified in the Saskatchewan Torus-Modified tokamak by means of resonant magnetic perturbations (RMP). It has been found that the radial profiles of ion saturation current and floating potential in the edge region can be modified by an externally applied static (m=2, n=1) RMP field. An increase in the pedestal plasma density (n) and more negative electric field (E-r) have been observed in the plasma edge region. It is believed that the RMP field altered the plasma transport in the edge and scrape-off layer regions, leading to a higher density pedestal and a potential drop in some cases. During the enhanced confinement phase, it is possible to identify a region where intermittent transport events, the so-called blobs, are created and the holes of lower density left behind.