Linear gyrokinetic calculations of low density electron heat dominated plasmas in ASDEX Upgrade
fO. Gruber, H.-S. Bosch, S. Günter et al., Nucl. Fusion 39, 1321 s1999dg are presented. It is found
that the dominant mode is a trapped electron mode, which under the experimental conditions is
sensitive to the density gradient, collisions, and magnetic shear. The quasilinear heat flux scales in
good agreement with the experimental observed heat conductivity. Many experimentally observed
phenomena can be explained on the basis of the presented calculations: the existence of a threshold,
the fast propagation of the heat wave, and the moderate stiffness of the electron channel. The
implications of the calculations for the empirical investigations are discussed. |