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Title: Global gyrokinetic simulations of the H-mode tokamak edge pedestal

Abstract

Global gyrokinetic simulations of DIII-D H-mode edge pedestal show two types of instabilities may exist approaching the onset of edge localized modes: an intermediate-n, high frequency mode which we identify as the “kinetic peeling ballooning mode (KPBM),” and a high-n, low frequency mode. Our previous study [W. Wan et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 109, 185004 (2012)] has shown that when the safety factor profile is flattened around the steep pressure gradient region, the high-n mode is clearly kinetic ballooning mode and becomes the dominant instability. Otherwise, the KPBM dominates. Here, the properties of the two instabilities are studied by varying the density and temperature profiles. It is found that the KPBM is destabilized by density and ion temperature gradient, and the high-n mode is mostly destabilized by electron temperature gradient. Nonlinear simulations with the KPBM saturate at high levels. The equilibrium radial electric field (E{sub r}) reduces the transport. The effect of the parallel equilibrium current is found to be weak.

Authors:
; ;  [1];  [2];  [3]; ;  [4]
  1. Department of Physics, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80309 (United States)
  2. General Atomics, Post Office Box 85068, San Diego, California 92186 (United States)
  3. University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706 (United States)
  4. Tech-X Corporation, 5621 Arapahoe Ave., Boulder, Colorado 80305 (United States)
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
22228067
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Physics of Plasmas
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 20; Journal Issue: 5; Other Information: (c) 2013 AIP Publishing LLC; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); Journal ID: ISSN 1070-664X
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY; BALLOONING INSTABILITY; BOUNDARY LAYERS; DOUBLET-3 DEVICE; EDGE LOCALIZED MODES; ELECTRIC CURRENTS; ELECTRIC FIELDS; ELECTRON TEMPERATURE; H-MODE PLASMA CONFINEMENT; ION TEMPERATURE; NONLINEAR PROBLEMS; PLASMA DENSITY; PLASMA PRESSURE; PLASMA SIMULATION; PRESSURE GRADIENTS; TEMPERATURE GRADIENTS

Citation Formats

Wan, Weigang, Parker, Scott E., Chen, Yang, Groebner, Richard J., Yan, Zheng, Pankin, Alexei Y., and Kruger, Scott E. Global gyrokinetic simulations of the H-mode tokamak edge pedestal. United States: N. p., 2013. Web. doi:10.1063/1.4803890.
Wan, Weigang, Parker, Scott E., Chen, Yang, Groebner, Richard J., Yan, Zheng, Pankin, Alexei Y., & Kruger, Scott E. Global gyrokinetic simulations of the H-mode tokamak edge pedestal. United States. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4803890
Wan, Weigang, Parker, Scott E., Chen, Yang, Groebner, Richard J., Yan, Zheng, Pankin, Alexei Y., and Kruger, Scott E. 2013. "Global gyrokinetic simulations of the H-mode tokamak edge pedestal". United States. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4803890.
@article{osti_22228067,
title = {Global gyrokinetic simulations of the H-mode tokamak edge pedestal},
author = {Wan, Weigang and Parker, Scott E. and Chen, Yang and Groebner, Richard J. and Yan, Zheng and Pankin, Alexei Y. and Kruger, Scott E.},
abstractNote = {Global gyrokinetic simulations of DIII-D H-mode edge pedestal show two types of instabilities may exist approaching the onset of edge localized modes: an intermediate-n, high frequency mode which we identify as the “kinetic peeling ballooning mode (KPBM),” and a high-n, low frequency mode. Our previous study [W. Wan et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 109, 185004 (2012)] has shown that when the safety factor profile is flattened around the steep pressure gradient region, the high-n mode is clearly kinetic ballooning mode and becomes the dominant instability. Otherwise, the KPBM dominates. Here, the properties of the two instabilities are studied by varying the density and temperature profiles. It is found that the KPBM is destabilized by density and ion temperature gradient, and the high-n mode is mostly destabilized by electron temperature gradient. Nonlinear simulations with the KPBM saturate at high levels. The equilibrium radial electric field (E{sub r}) reduces the transport. The effect of the parallel equilibrium current is found to be weak.},
doi = {10.1063/1.4803890},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/22228067}, journal = {Physics of Plasmas},
issn = {1070-664X},
number = 5,
volume = 20,
place = {United States},
year = {Wed May 15 00:00:00 EDT 2013},
month = {Wed May 15 00:00:00 EDT 2013}
}