Effects of pulsed poloidal current drive on the edge region of a reversed field pinch plasma

The plasma edge region of the RFX reversed field pinch experiment has been studied during pulsed poloidal current drive (PPCD) operation at low plasma current. The edge region is largely affected during PPCD, and evidence of important modifications of electric and magnetic field and of E x B drift velocity are reported. A substantial decrease of electrostatic transport has been observed during the PPCD phase and this effect is ascribed to a combination of displacement and plasma column shrinking.