Direct evidence of eddy breaking and tilting by edge sheared flows observed in the TEXTOR tokamak

Abstract In this letter, we present direct evidence of eddy breaking and tilting events observed at the edge of the TEXTOR tokamak using a 2D gas puff imaging diagnostic. The occurrence of eddy breaking depends on the magnitude of the E r × B flow shearing rate. The results confirm the theoretical predictions about the influence of E r × B sheared flows in tilting and splitting turbulence eddies, and consequently, reducing the turbulent transport.