Observation of confinement degradation of energetic ions due to Alfvén eigenmodes in JT-60U weak shear plasmas

Confinement degradation of energetic ions due to Alfven eigenmodes (AEs) has been investigated with negative ion based neutral beam injection at similar to 370 keV into JT-60U weak shear plasmas. AEs with a rapid frequency sweeping and then saturation as the minimum value of the safety factor decreases have been observed. This frequency behaviour can be explained by the reversed-shear induced AE (RSAE) and the transition from RSAEs to the toroidicity-induced AEs (TAEs). The associated change in the charge exchange neutral particle flux suggests energetic ion transport due to these AEs. The total neutron emission reduction rate in the presence of these AEs is evaluated by calculation using the orbit following Monte-Carlo code taking into account the change in bulk plasmas. The evaluation indicates confinement of energetic ions is degraded due to these AEs. In particular, it is found that the confinement degradation of energetic ions is maximum during the transition from RSAEs to TAEs and the maximum reduction rate (Delta Sn/Sn)(MAX) is estimated to be similar to 45%.