On the interpretation of fluctuation and ExB turbulent transport measured by Langmuir probes in fusion plasmas

Plasma fluctuations and fluctuation-induced particle fluxes have been investigated in the plasma edge of the TJ-II stellarator using Langmuir probes. Simultaneous measurements of plasma fluctuations carried out by probes located in and out of the probe body sheath show similar results in the normalized level of fluctuations in the ion saturation current. However, floating potential fluctuations measured in the co and counter direction of the magnetic field on the sheath probe body show slight but significant differences. The local radial electrostatic turbulent driven transport measured in and out of the probe body sheath shows consistent results, within the errors bars due to uncertainties in the determination of the effective probe collecting area; the normalized local radial transport to the average ion saturation current (the effective velocity which is not affected by uncertainties in the probe area) show consistent results. These results and previous findings call into question the recent interpretation of probe measurements on the basis of the influence of the probe's pre-sheath zone [B. Labombard, Phys. Plasmas. 9, 1300 (2002)]. (C) 2004 American Institute of Physics.