First results from H-mode plasmas generated by ICRF heating in the EAST

Deuterium high-confinement (H-mode) plasmas, lasting up to 3.45 s, have been generated in the EAST by ion cyclotron range of frequency (ICRF) heating. H-mode access was achieved by coating the molybdenum-tiled first wall with lithium to reduce the hydrogen recycling from the wall. H-mode plasmas with plasma currents between 0.4 and 0.6 MA and axial toroidal magnetic fields between 1.85 and 1.95 T were generated by 27 MHz ICRF heating of deuterium plasma with hydrogen minority. The ICRF input power required to access the H-mode was 1.6-1.8 MW. The line-averaged density was in the range (1.83-2.3) x 10(19) m(-3). 200-500 Hz type-III edge localized mode activity was observed during the H-mode phase. The H-mode confinement factor, H-98IPB(y, 2), was similar to 0.7.