Resistive reduced MHD modeling of multi-edge-localized-mode cycles in Tokamak X-point plasmas.

The full dynamics of a multi-edge-localized-mode (ELM) cycle is modeled for the first time in realistic tokamak X-point geometry with the nonlinear reduced MHD code jorek. The diamagnetic rotation is found to be instrumental to stabilize the plasma after an ELM crash and to model the cyclic reconstruction and collapse of the plasma pressure profile. ELM relaxations are cyclically initiated each time the pedestal gradient crosses a triggering threshold. Diamagnetic drifts are also found to yield a near-symmetric ELM power deposition on the inner and outer divertor target plates, consistent with experimental measurements.

Finding the elusive E×B staircase in magnetized plasmas.

Turbulence in hot magnetized plasmas is shown to generate permeable localized transport barriers that globally organize into the so-called "ExB staircase" [G. Dif-Pradalier et al., Phys. Rev. E, 82, 025401(R) (2010)]. Its domain of existence and dependence with key plasma parameters is discussed theoretically. Based on these predictions, staircases are observed experimentally in the Tore Supra tokamak by means of high-resolution fast-sweeping X-mode reflectometry. This observation strongly emphasizes the critical role of mesoscale self-organization in plasma turbulence and may have far-reaching consequences for turbulent transport models and their validation.

Mechanism of edge localized mode mitigation by resonant magnetic perturbations.

A possible mechanism of edge localized modes (ELMs) mitigation by resonant magnetic perturbations (RMPs) is proposed based on the results of nonlinear resistive magnetohydrodynamic modeling using the jorek code, realistic JET-like plasma parameters and an RMP spectrum of JET error-field correction coils (EFCC) with a main toroidal number n=2 were used in the simulations. Without RMPs, a large ELM relaxation is obtained mainly due to the most unstable medium-n ballooning mode. The externally imposed RMP drives nonlinearly the modes coupled to n=2 RMP which produce small multimode relaxations, mitigated ELMs. The modes driven by RMPs exhibit a tearinglike structure and produce additional islands. Mitigated ELMs deposit energy into the divertor mainly in the structures ("footprints") created by n=2 RMPs, however, slightly modulated by other nonlinearly driven even harmonics. The divertor power flux during a ELM phase mitigated by RMPs is reduced almost by a factor of 10. The mechanism of ELM mitigation by RMPs proposed here reproduces generic features of high collisionality RMP experiments, where large ELMs are replaced by small, much more frequent ELMs or magnetic turbulence. Total ELM suppression was also demonstrated in modeling at higher RMP amplitude.

Unraveling quasiperiodic relaxations of transport barriers with gyrokinetic simulations of tokamak plasmas.

The generation and dynamics of transport barriers governed by sheared poloidal flows are analyzed in flux-driven 5D gyrokinetic simulations of ion temperature gradient driven turbulence in tokamak plasmas. The transport barrier is triggered by a vorticity source that polarizes the system. The chosen source captures characteristic features of some experimental scenarios, namely, the generation of a sheared electric field coupled to anisotropic heating. For sufficiently large shearing rates, turbulent transport is suppressed and a transport barrier builds up, in agreement with the common understanding of transport barriers. The vorticity source also governs a secondary instability--driven by the temperature anisotropy (T(∥)≠T(⊥)). Turbulence and its associated zonal flows are generated in the vicinity of the barrier, destroying the latter due to the screening of the polarization source by the zonal flows. These barrier relaxations occur quasiperiodically, and generically result from the decoupling between the dynamics of the barrier generation, triggered by the source driven sheared flow, and that of the crash, triggered by the secondary instability. This result underlines that barriers triggered by sheared flows are prone to relaxations whenever secondary instabilities come into play.

Impact of energetic-particle-driven geodesic acoustic modes on turbulence.

The impact on turbulent transport of geodesic acoustic modes excited by energetic particles is evidenced for the first time in flux-driven 5D gyrokinetic simulations using the Gysela code. Energetic geodesic acoustic modes (EGAMs) are excited in a regime with a transport barrier in the outer radial region. The interaction between EGAMs and turbulence is such that turbulent transport can be enhanced in the presence of EGAMs, with the subsequent destruction of the transport barrier. This scenario could be particularly critical in those plasmas, such as burning plasmas, exhibiting a rich population of suprathermal particles capable of exciting energetic modes.