Effect of neoclassical transport optimization on electron heat transport in low-collisionality LHD plasmas

Electron heat transport in the low-collisonality electron cyclotron heating plasma is investigated to clarify the effect of neoclassical transport optimization on the thermal plasma transport in the Large Helical Device (LHD). Five configurations are realized by shifting the magnetic axis position in major radius: 3.45, 3.53, 3.6, 3.75, and 3.9 m. A clear effective helical ripple (which is a quantitative measure of the neoclassical transport optimization) dependency on the enhancement factor of the global energy confinement relative to ISS95 is observed. Local heat transport analyses show a higher electron temperature and a lower heat transport in the neoclassical transport optimized configuration at half the minor radius. The comparisons of the experimental total heat fluxes with that of the neoclassical transport by DCOM/ NNW suggest that the neoclassical transport plays a significant role in the heat transport and that the neoclassical transport optimization is effective in improving the plasma confinement in the low-collisionality LHD plasma.