Mean flows and blob velocities in scrape-off layer (SOLT) simulations of an L-mode discharge on Alcator C-Mod

Russell, D. A.; Myra, J. R.; D'Ippolito, D. A.; LaBombard, B.; Hughes, J. W.; Terry, J. L.; Zweben, S. J.

doi:10.1063/1.4953419

Mean flows and blob velocities in scrape-off layer (SOLT) simulations of an L-mode discharge on Alcator C-Mod

Journal Article · Fri Jun 10 00:00:00 EDT 2016 · Physics of Plasmas

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4953419· OSTI ID:1256738

^[1]; ^[2]; D'Ippolito, D. A. ^[2]; LaBombard, B. ^[3]; ^[3]; ^[3]; ^[4]

Lodestar Research Corp., Boulder, CO (United States); Lodestar Research Corporation
Lodestar Research Corp., Boulder, CO (United States)
Massachusetts Inst. of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA (United States)
Princeton Plasma Physics Lab. (PPPL), Princeton, NJ (United States)

Two-dimensional scrape-off layer turbulence (SOLT) code simulations are compared with an L-mode discharge on the Alcator C-Mod tokamak [M. Greenwald, et al., Phys. Plasmas 21, 110501 (2014)]. Density and temperature profiles for the simulations were obtained by smoothly fitting Thomson scattering and mirror Langmuir probe (MLP) data from the shot. Simulations differing in turbulence intensity were obtained by varying a dissipation parameter. Mean flow profiles and density fluctuation amplitudes are consistent with those measured by MLP in the experiment and with a Fourier space diagnostic designed to measure poloidal phase velocity. Blob velocities in the simulations were determined from the correlation function for density fluctuations, as in the analysis of gas-puff-imaging (GPI) blobs in the experiment. In the simulations, it was found that larger blobs moved poloidally with the ExB flow velocity, v_E , in the near-SOL, while smaller fluctuations moved with the group velocity of the dominant linear (interchange) mode, v_E + 1/2 v_di, where v_di is the ion diamagnetic drift velocity. Comparisons are made with the measured GPI correlation velocity for the discharge. The saturation mechanisms operative in the simulation of the discharge are also discussed. In conclusion, it is found that neither sheared flow nor pressure gradient modification can be excluded as saturation mechanisms.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: Lodestar Research Corp., Boulder, CO (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Science (SC), Fusion Energy Sciences (FES) (SC-24)

Contributing Organization:: Enter names of organizations that provided significant assistance but not direct funding

Grant/Contract Number:: FG02-97ER54392

OSTI ID:: 1256738

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 1256535

Journal Information:: Physics of Plasmas, Journal Name: Physics of Plasmas Journal Issue: 6 Vol. 23; ISSN PHPAEN; ISSN 1070-664X

Publisher:: American Institute of Physics (AIP)Copyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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