Transport and stability of the DIII-D q_min~1.5 scenario

β_N of 3.5–4 has been achieved in the DIII-D q_min~1.5 scenario using either on-axis neutral beam current drive (NBCD) or a mix of on- and off-axis NBCD. The off-axis NBCD is expected to broaden the plasma current and pressure profiles, resulting in stability and transport changes between plasmas with these different NBCD profiles. Both types of discharges are often terminated prematurely by n=1–3 tearing modes with n=1 modes being the most prevalent. However, DCON stability analysis of a discharge with off-axis NBCD finds that the n=2 ideal mode is the most unstable. These tearing modes are often triggered by bursty energetic particle modes (EPMs). Bursty n=1, 3 EPMs are often benignly present in these discharges but they are stronger and more frequent in discharges with off-axis NBCD. These discharges also have Alfvén eigenmodes (AEs) that cause fast-ion transport. However, AEs are reduced in the discharges with off-axis NBCD and the fast ion losses are closer to classical, as indicated by fluctuation diagnostics and neutron rate measurement. Local transport analysis using TRANSP and simulations using TGLF/TGYRO of these discharges will be presented.