On the theory of improved confinement due to stationary multifaceted asymmetric radiation from the edge

Multifaceted asymmetric radiation from the edge (MARFE's) are toroidally symmetric and poloidally asymmetric radiation bands that occur in tokamaks as a result of a thermal instability, originated by radiation losses. It was observed in TFTR and TEXTOR that they formed as density was increased, and impurities concentrated on the edge. Under certain circumstances, they could evolve into weakly poloidal symmetric structures that cooled the edge of the plasma to a few tens of eV, thus leading to detachment from the limiter. Although non-stationary MARFE's are often precursors of disruptions, the use of a stochastic divertor in TORE-SUPRA, and of feedback controlled gas-puff in HT-7 have proved the existence of stationary MARFE's. Their appearance has been found to depend strongly on the impurity content of the plasma. They trigger internal transport barriers, observed in the electron temperature profiles. The purpose of this work is: to take into account the edge control in order to understand the sustainment of stationary MARFE's, and to propose non-local mechanisms that can explain the formation of internal transport barriers. (author)