3D Effects on RFX-mod helical boundary region

In present fusion research a strong effort is devoted to the studies of non axisymmetric magnetic perturbations and consequent field ergodization on the external region of the plasma. On this topic interesting results can be drawn from the helical configuration observed in high-current regimes in Reversed Field Pinches (RFP) where the small edge helical ripple is sufficient to modulate the plasma wall interaction (PWI) and the plasma kinetic properties. This contribution presents the most recent experimental results and physical interpretation of the phenomena observed in the edge region of the RFX-mod RFP experiment. Experimental observations indicate that plasma pressure and floating potential are spatially modulated accordingly to the helical deformation. Helical flow is observed at the edge as a consequence of an ambipolar electricfield. Emphasis will be devoted to the determination of the actual phase relation between magnetic perturbation and velocity perturbation, and its dependence on plasma collisionality. Finally, the helical ripple is found to influence also turbulence properties at the edge.