Determination of the stochastic layer width induced by magnetic perturbations via heat pulse experiments in ASDEX upgrade

Magnetic Perturbations (MP) are studied on a number of tokamaks, due to their mitigating effect on Edge Localized Modes (ELMs), which pose a serious risk for the plasma facing components. MPs can lead to the creation of a stochastic layer in the plasma edge. Theory predicts, however, that the plasma screens the MP field, but the measurement of this screening effect remains elusive. In this contribution we present an experimental approach to measure the stochastic layer width, by the localized deposition of Electron Cyclotron Resonance Heating pulses in the edge region. Simulations with the 3D transport code EMC3-Eirene for ASDEX Upgrade (AUG) indicate that the propagation time to the target decreases with decreasing screening. A corresponding heat pulse L-mode experiment on AUG was carried out where no decrease of the propagation time between the case with and without MPs could be measured within the error bars, indicating strong screening.