Interaction of Spatially Localized LHW with Banana Particles

The paper proposes a novel mechanism of LHW stochastic acceleration of electrons in a tokamak

Outcomes of Midurethral Slings in Women with Concomitant Preoperative Severe Lower Urinary Tract Voiding Symptoms

BACKGROUND: Women with stress urinary incontinence and concomitant obstructive (voiding) lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) represent a challenging patient population. Furthermore, their diagnosis and management remain incompletely studied and controversial. We evaluated the outcomes of midurethral sling procedures in women with severe obstructive LUTS. METHODS: We performed a post hoc analysis of women who were part of an institutional review board-approved study of midurethral sling surgery. Preoperatively and at 4-6 weeks postoperatively, patients completed the American Urological Association Symptom Score (AUASS) questionnaire. A postvoid residual urine test was obtained preoperatively, at the time of the voiding trial, and 4-6 weeks postoperatively. Three groups of patients with severe LUTS were then defined: Group A (AUASS \u3e/=20), Group B (voiding subscale \u3e/=12), and Group C (urodynamic obstruction). Patients could be included in more than one group. AUASS was again obtained at a medium-term follow-up of 31.6 months. RESULTS: Of 106 women completing follow-up, 30, 23, and 11 subjects met the criteria for groups A, B, and C, respectively. All had statistically significant improvements in storage and voiding subscales, as well as their stress urinary incontinence. No subject presented with retention or voiding dysfunction at follow-up. These improvements continued at medium-term follow-up with the exception of Group C that failed to demonstrate persistence of statistical improvement in AUASS subscales. CONCLUSION: Patients with stress urinary incontinence and severe voiding LUTS can be treated safely with midurethral sling procedures. In both the short and medium term, these symptoms improve dramatically in the majority of patients

Formation of convective cells in the scrape-off layer of the CASTOR tokamak

Understanding of the scrape-off layer (SOL) physics in tokamaks requires diagnostics with sufficient temporal and spatial resolution. This contribution describes results of experiments performed in the SOL of the CASTOR tokamak (R=40 cm, a = 6 cm) by means of a ring of 124 Langmuir probes surrounding the whole poloidal cross section. The individual probes measure either the ion saturation current of the floating potential with the spatial resolution up to 3 mm. Experiments are performed in a particular magnetic configuration, characterized by a long parallel connection length in the SOL, L_par ~q2piR. We report on measurements in discharges, where the edge electric field is modified by inserting a biased electrode into the edge plasma. In particular, a complex picture is observed, if the biased electrode is located inside the SOL. The poloidal distribution of the floating potential appears to be strongly non-uniform at biasing. The peaks of potential are observed at particular poloidal angles. This is interpreted as formation of a biased flux tube, which emanates from the electrode along the magnetic field lines and snakes q times around the torus. The resulting electric field in the SOL is 2-dimensional, having the radial as well as the poloidal component. It is demonstrated that the poloidal electric field E_pol convects the edge plasma radially due to the E_pol x B_T drift either inward or outward depending on its sign. The convective particle flux is by two orders of magnitude larger than the fluctuation-induced one and consequently dominates.Comment: 12th International Congress on Plasma Physics, 25-29 October 2004, Nice (France

Physics of transport barriers

The concept of ExB flow velocity shear suppression is utterly fundamental in modern fusion research. It is asserted that there are models enabling to understand the physics involved in LH transitions. To improve the understanding of the mechanisms leading to the formation of Transport Barriers, especially the relation between Internal and Edge barriers it is necessary to invoke the issue of electric fields. Edge transport barriers are the feature of the H-mode, the baseline regime of ITER, whereas Internal Transport Barriers are used to develop regimes that might be employed for steady state operation of ITER , definitely beneficial for design and operation of fusion power plants in the future. Their synergy will be addressed. Plasma flows are closely connected to electric fields. Therefore, their role is crucial for understanding of tokamaks aimed at the achievement of fusion energy. This appears in the well known neoclassical theory as the most accomplished and selfconsistent basis for understanding of fusion plasmas. It pertains to the novel concept of "zonal flows" emerging from the recent development of gyro-kinetic transport codes. The equilibrium poloidal and toroidal flows are also crucial for the concept of the electric field shear suppression of plasma turbulence in tokamaks. Yet, this timely and topical issue has remained largely unaddressed experimentally because of great difficulties in measuring flows in plasmas