Low-frequency global Alfven eigenmodes in low-shear tokamaks with trapped energetic ions

It is shown that, in the tokamak plasmas with broad low-shear central core and safety factor q0 > or approx. 1, there exists a low-frequency global Alfven eigenmode capable of resonating with precession of the trapped energetic ions. This mode has the dominant numbers m=n=1, but the coupling with the upper toroidal sideband is crucial both for the eigenmode formation and its excitation by energetic ions. The properties of this mode are consistent with observations of the low-frequency n=1 mode driven by energetic ions in the ''hybrid'' discharges with perpendicular injection on the JT-60U tokamak [N. Oyama, A. Isayama, G. Matsunaga et al., Nucl. Fusion 49, 065026 (2009)].