Potential structure measurements of ech plasma in a helical axis stellarator

ECH plasma potential structures were measured by Langmuir probes in the Tohoku University HELIAC. By adjusting the coil current ratio of the center conductor and the toroidal coils, 2 characteristic configurations were selected, the 1st case with the n ̸ m = 3/2 rational surface, the 2nd case without the rational surface. A perturbation field was added in the 1st case in order to produce m=2 magnetic islands. Before ECH turn-off the potential structure near the ECH antenna strongly depends on MOD B surfaces; on the other hand, away from antenna the potential structure agrees well with magnetic surfaces, but peculiar regions resembling m=2 islands appear along a rational surface and disappear in the case without a rational surface. After ECH turn-off both potential structures, near and away from the antenna, not only agree very well with magnetic surfaces, but also preserve the magnetic island structures.