Theory for toroidal momentum pinch and flow reversal in tokamaks

It is demonstrated that besides the well-known toroidal momentum diffusion flux there is a pinchlike flux in the fluctuation-induced toroidal stress. A toroidal flow profile is determined up to a constant, e.g., the value of the flow at the magnetic axis, by balancing these two fluxes. The remaining residual toroidal stress determines the value of the flow at the axis. It is illustrated that the direction of the flow at the axis can change after plasma confinement is improved. The theory is applied to explain the toroidal flow reversal in tokamak experiments.