Theory based scaling of edge turbulence and implications for the scrape-off layer width

Myra, J. R.; Russell, D. A.; Zweben, S. J.

doi:10.1063/1.4966564

Theory based scaling of edge turbulence and implications for the scrape-off layer width

Journal Article · Tue Nov 01 00:00:00 EDT 2016 · Physics of Plasmas

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4966564· OSTI ID:1340279

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Lodestar Research Corp., Boulder, CO (United States)
Princeton Plasma Physics Lab. (PPPL), Princeton, NJ (United States)

Turbulence and plasma parameter data from the National Spherical Torus Experiment (NSTX) is examined and interpreted based on various theoretical estimates. In particular, quantities of interest for assessing the role of turbulent transport on the midplane scrape-off layer heat flux width are assessed. Because most turbulence quantities exhibit large scatter and little scaling within a given operation mode, this paper focuses on length and time scales and dimensionless parameters between operational modes including Ohmic, low (L), and high (H) modes using a large NSTX edge turbulence database. These are compared with theoretical estimates for drift and interchange rates, profile modification saturation levels, a resistive ballooning condition, and dimensionless parameters characterizing L and H mode conditions. It is argued that the underlying instability physics governing edge turbulence in different operational modes is, in fact, similar, and is consistent with curvature-driven drift ballooning. Saturation physics, however, is dependent on the operational mode. Five dimensionless parameters for drift-interchange turbulence are obtained and employed to assess the importance of turbulence in setting the scrape-off layer heat flux width λ_q and its scaling. An explicit proportionality of the width λ_q to the safety factor and major radius (qR) is obtained under these conditions. Lastly, quantitative estimates and reduced model numerical simulations suggest that the turbulence mechanism is not negligible in determining λ_q in NSTX, at least for high plasma current discharges.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: Lodestar Research Corp., Boulder, CO (United States); Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL), Princeton, NJ (United States)

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

Contributing Organization:: Lodestar Res Corp, 2400 Cent Ave, Boulder, CO 80301 USA.

Grant/Contract Number:: AC02-09CH11466; FG02-02ER54678; FG02-97ER54392

OSTI ID:: 1340279

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 1330725
OSTI ID: 1358115

Report Number(s):: DOE--ER/54392-82; LRC--16-166

Journal Information:: Physics of Plasmas, Journal Name: Physics of Plasmas Journal Issue: 11 Vol. 23; ISSN 1070-664X

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

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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Cited By (9)

Theory based scaling of edge turbulence and implications for the scrape-off layer width Myra, J.; Russell, D.; Zweben, S. Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL), Princeton, NJ (United States) https://doi.org/10.11578/1562026	dataset	January 2016
Analysis of equilibrium and turbulent fluxes across the separatrix in a gyrokinetic simulation Keramidas Charidakos, I.; Myra, J. R.; Parker, S. Physics of Plasmas, Vol. 25, Issue 7 https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5037723	journal	July 2018
Blob-hole correlation model for edge turbulence and comparisons with NSTX gas puff imaging data Myra, J. R.; Zweben, S. J.; Russell, D. A. Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion, Vol. 60, Issue 7 https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-6587/aac4fc	journal	June 2018
High-resolution heat flux width measurements at reactor-level magnetic fields and observation of a unified width scaling across confinement regimes in the Alcator C-Mod tokamak Brunner, D.; LaBombard, B.; Kuang, A. Q. Nuclear Fusion, Vol. 58, Issue 9 https://doi.org/10.1088/1741-4326/aad0d6	journal	July 2018
Divertor leg filaments in NSTX-U Scotti, Filippo; Zweben, Stewart; Soukhanovskii, Vlad Nuclear Fusion, Vol. 58, Issue 12 https://doi.org/10.1088/1741-4326/aae49f	journal	October 2018
Theory based scaling of edge turbulence and implications for the scrape-off layer width Myra, J. R.; Russell, D. A.; Zweben, S. J. Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL), Princeton, NJ (United States) https://doi.org/10.11578/1366750	dataset	January 2016
Analysis of equilibrium and turbulent fluxes across the separatrix in a gyrokinetic simulation Charidakos, I. Keramidas; Myra, J. R.; Parker, S. arXiv https://doi.org/10.48550/arxiv.1804.10301	text	January 2018
Analysis Of Equilibrium And Turbulent Fluxes Across The Separatrix In A Gyrokinetic Simulation [Supplementary Data] Charidakos, Ioannis Keramidas; Myra, James; Parker, Scott Zenodo-Supplementary information for journal article at DOI: 10.1063/1.5037723, 15 files (333.7 kB) https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.1230039	dataset	April 2018
Analysis Of Equilibrium And Turbulent Fluxes Across The Separatrix In A Gyrokinetic Simulation [Supplementary Data] Charidakos, Ioannis Keramidas; Myra, James; Parker, Scott Zenodo-Supplementary information for journal article at DOI: 10.1063/1.5037723, 15 files (333.7 kB) https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.1230040	dataset	April 2018

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