Mean Flows and Blob Velocities in Scrape-Off Layer (SOLT) Simulations of an L-mode discharge on Alcator C-Mod

Two-dimensional scrape-off layer turbulence (SOLT) code simulations are compared with an L-mode discharge on Alcator C-Mod. Density and temperature profiles for the simulations were obtained by smoothly fitting Thomson scatter 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. 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 \textit{simulations}, it was found that larger blobs moved poloidally with the ExB flow velocity, v$_{\mathrm{E}}$ , in the near-SOL, while smaller fluctuations moved with the group velocity of the dominant linear (interchange) mode, v$_{\mathrm{E}} + $ 1/2 v$_{\mathrm{di}}$, where v$_{\mathrm{di}}$ is the ion diamagnetic drift velocity. Comparisons are made with the \textit{measured} GPI correlation velocity. The saturation mechanisms operative in the simulation of the discharge are explored.