Effect of q-profile modification by LHCD on internal transport barriers inJET

Optimized shear (OS) experiments in JET can generate an internal transport barrier (ITB) during a high power heating phase early in the plasma dischar ge. A strong link is generally observed between the formation of the barrie r and the location of an integer q magnetic surface within a low magnetic s hear (s = r/q(dq/dr)) region of the plasma. However, if the q-profile for s uch experiments is modified by applying lower hybrid heating and current dr ive (LHCD) before the main heating pulse, to provide a region of reduced or negative magnetic shear in the plasma core, ITBs can be formed the locatio n of which does not exhibit any apparent association with a particular inte rnal magnetic surface. Initial results suggest that q-profile modification using an LHCD prelude can also be used to reduce the heating power level re quired for ITB generation.