Neoclassical transport in density pedestals with non-trace impurities

ORAL

Abstract

We study neoclassical transport in steady-state density pedestals with non-trace impurities using the Eulerian $\delta f$ code \textsc{Perfect}, with an emphasis on radially global effects and the effects of impurities. To properly describe transport in a tokamak pedestal, radial coupling must be included, which strongly affects the transport. We find that radial coupling reduces the pedestal heat flux compared to local predictions. Furthermore, the influence of the pedestal persists several orbit widths into the core. The electron flux is significant in the pedestal, and global neoclassical transport is not intrinsically ambipolar. Thus, the impurity flux is not simply opposing the ion flux. The resulting radial current gives a torque that is balanced by a non-negligible radial transport of toroidal momentum. The effective Prandtl number is comparable to typical turbulent values in the core ($0.1$--$0.3$), and is sensitive to the impurity content. Global effects have a strong contribution to the poloidal flows of low-$Z$ ions, which give rise to larger in-out flow asymmetries.

*Supported by the INCA grant of Vetenskapsr{\aa}det (Dnr.~330-2014-6313). ML is supported by the USDoE grants DEFG0293ER54197 and DEFC0208ER54964. The simulations used computational resources of Hebbe at C3SE (C3SE2016-1-10 \& SNIC2016-1-161).

Authors

  • Stefan Buller

    • Chalmers University of Tech.
  • Istvan Pusztai

    • Chalmers University of Tech.
    • Chalmers Univ. Techn.
  • Matt Landreman

    • University of Maryland
    • University of Maryland, College Park