JET progress towards an advanced mode of ITER operation with current profile control

The recent progress of the EFDA-JET facility in advanced tokamak (AT) scenario research is reviewed, emphasizing the relevance for the advanced mode of ITER operation. In particular, the key role played by the current density profile from the low-performance prelude phase, to trigger an internal transport barrier (ITB), to the high-performance steady state, to maintain the regime, is illustrated by the recent results obtained on JET with reversed magnetic shear targets. The mitigated ELMy edge behaviour, as well as the neoclassical nature of the particle transport in highly non-inductive ITB discharges, is also reported and discussed. Finally, the first demonstrations of real-time profile control of ITB discharges open the way towards high-performance steady-state AT discharges, provided that current density and pressure profiles are controlled.