The role of the current profile in the improved H-mode scenario in ASDEX Upgrade

Recent studies at ASDEX Upgrade aim to further characterize and understand the physics of the improved H-mode scenario. The main focus is on the influence of the ramp-up phase of the plasma current and heating on energy confinement and MHD-activity during the subsequent flat-top phase. Depending on the ramp-up scenario two different stationary plasmas can be generated, which show different equilibrated current profiles, although external control parameters are the same in the flat-top phase. The difference of the current profiles in the flat-top phase seems to be due to different MHD-modes. These MHD-modes set in during relaxation of the current profile, which itself depends on the ramp-up scenario. Also the stored energy is different in the two cases as is the peaking of the temperature profiles. Three mechanisms seem to play a role in linking the observed changes in MHD-behaviour and current profile to the changes of the kinetic profiles: the increased transport due to the MHD-modes themselves, the variation of the ratio of magnetic shear s to safety factor q, which modifies the critical temperature gradient length for the onset of ion temperature gradients, and effects on the H-mode pedestal pressure.