Simulation of plasma transport by coherent structures in scrape-off-layer tokamak plasmas

Abstract

The formation of coherent structures by two-dimensional interchange turbulence in the scrape-off layer (SOL) of tokamak plasmas and their subsequent contribution to anomalous plasma transport has been studied in recent years using electron continuity and current balance equations. In this paper, it is demonstrated that the inclusion of electron energy equation in the simulations changes the nature of coherent structures in a significant manner and gives results which are in better agreement with experiments. Specifically, it is observed that radial potential gradients are established which give a poloidal elongation and movement to the structures. Only during the radial transport events do the structures get significantly extended in the radial direction giving radial velocities of order 1 km/s. Sometimes detachment of density structures from the main plasma is observed. These detached structures either decay into the background plasma or are transported out from the SOL. The simulated particle flux and its statistical properties also are discussed.