The Dependence of Confinement on the Isotope Mass in the Core and the Edge of AUG and JET H-Mode Plasmas

The dependence of particle and energy confinement in fusion plasmas on the main ion mass still challenges the current theoretical understanding of tokamak physics, although it represents one of the aspects of paramount relevance for the extrapolation to a fusion reactor. Moreover, knowledge is required in order to allow the experience developed in hydrogen (H) operation to be directly transferred into a successful operation in deuterium (D), an essential step from the pre-nuclear phase to the nuclear phase in ITER and in any future nuclear fusion reactor.