Modeling of the H-mode pedestal buildup in KSTAR using the XGC0 code

Four cases has been created based on the equilibrium for the KSTAR discharge 06123. The original KSTAR equilibrium does not have the H-mode pedestal. The H-mode pedestal structure was selected to have the pedestal width approximately 0.08 of the normalized poloidal flux so that the pedestal top was located at psi=0.92. These assumptions are used only for the initial profiles. The XGC0 code computes the pedestal structure using the initial plasma profiles as initial conditions. Four cases that I have studied differ by the plasma collisionality. The plasma density and temperatures in each case has been modified so that the ratio n_e / T_e^2 for the initial profiles would change, but the plasma pressure sum_{j=i,e}(n_j T_j) remains constant. Differences in initial plasma profiles are summarized in the table below.

Case # n_{ped} (10^{19} m^{-3}) T_{ped} (keV) ptl_charge Collisionality factor
XGC-T85Y 1.54 1.43 1 1
XGC-T86Y 3.14 0.7 1 8.5
XGC-T87Y 4.00 0.55 1 17.56
XGC-T88Y 4.92 0.447 2 65.39

For all four cases, I used the following assumption for the anomalous transport:

! particle transport
tbl_D_coeff_in=0.7D0 ! m^2/sec, inside (pedestal top) value of D_turb
tbl_D_coeff=0.04D0 ! m^2/sec, outside (pedestal bottom) value of D_turb
tbl_D_coeff2=1.3D0 ! m^2/sec, D_turb for outside of separatrix (SOL+private flux region)
! ion thermal diffusivities
tbl_therDi_coeff_in=0.8D0 ! m^2/sec, inside (pedestal top) value of thermal D_turb for ions
tbl_therDi_coeff=1D-8 ! m^2/sec, outside (pedestal bottom) value of thermal D_turb for ions
tbl_therDi_coeff2=4D0 ! m^2/sec, thermal D_turb for outside of separatrix (SOL+private flux region) for ions
! electron thermal diffusivities
tbl_therDe_coeff_in=1.2D0 ! m^2/sec, inside (pedestal top) value of thermal D_turb for electrons
tbl_therDe_coeff=1D-8 ! m^2/sec, outside (pedestal bottom) value of thermal D_turb for electrons
tbl_therDe_coeff2=4D0 ! m^2/sec, thermal D_turb for outside of separatrix (SOL+private flux region) for electrons

The electron and ion temperature profiles and electron density profiles for all four cases are given below.

Case XGC-T85Y

Electron temperature profile for the case XGC-T85Y

Electron temperature profile for the case XGC-T85Y

Ion temperature profile for the case XGC-T85Y

Ion temperature profile for the case XGC-T85Y

Electron density profile for the case XGC-T85Y

Electron density profile for the case XGC-T85Y

Plasma pressure profile for the case XGC-T85Y

Plasma pressure profile for the case XGC-T85Y

Case XGC-T86Y

Electron temperature profile for the case XGC-T86Y

Electron temperature profile for the case XGC-T86Y

Ion temperature profile for the case XGC-T86Y

Ion temperature profile for the case XGC-T86Y

Electron density profile for the case XGC-T86Y

Electron density profile for the case XGC-T86Y

Plasma pressure profile for the case XGC-T86Y

Plasma pressure profile for the case XGC-T86Y

Case XGC-T87Y

Electron temperature profile for the case XGC-T87Y

Electron temperature profile for the case XGC-T87Y

Ion temperature profile for the case XGC-T87Y

Ion temperature profile for the case XGC-T87Y

profiles-2

Electron density profile for the case XGC-T87Y

Plasma pressure profile for the case XGC-T87Y

Plasma pressure profile for the case XGC-T87Y

Case XGC-T88Y

Electron temperature profile for the case XGC-T88Y

Electron temperature profile for the case XGC-T88Y

Ion temperature profile for the case XGC-T88Y

Ion temperature profile for the case XGC-T88Y

Electron density profile for the case XGC-T88Y

Electron density profile for the case XGC-T88Y

Plasma pressure profile for the case XGC-T88Y

Plasma pressure profile for the case XGC-T88Y

Some observations:

  1. The pedestal width is smaller than the width that is used for the initial profiles. The computed pedestal width is around 0.6-0.7 of the normalized poloidal flux for all cases.
  2. During the XGC0 runs (44-80 ion transit times), the pedestal continue to grow only for the first two cases. The pedestal height decreases for two other cases. This effect is most notable for the last case, that has the largest collisionality. I had to increase internal particle source in this case in order to run it to 44 ion transit times. Event with increased particle sources, the simulations for the case XGC-T88Y crashes after 44 ion transit times.
  3. The slop of the plasma pressure profiles continue to change for all four cases.
  4. There is a density depletion in the SOL region for the second and third cases at t=80. This effect results in an artificial increase of ion temperatures in the SOL region.