Experimental tests of transport models using modulated electron cyclotron heating

Both the dynamic and equilibrium thermal responses of an L mode plasma to repetitive ECH heat pulses were measured and compared with predictions from several thermal transport models. While no model consistently agreed with all observations, the GLF23 model was most consistent with the perturbed electron and ion temperature responses for one of the cases studied, which may indicate a key role played by electron modes in the core of these discharges. Generally, the IIF and MM models performed well for the perturbed electron response while the GLF23 and IFS/PPPL models agreed with the perturbed ion response for all three cases studied. No single model agreed well with the equilibrium temperature profiles measured.