Integrated particle simulation of neoclassical and turbulence physics in the tokamak pedestal/edge region using XGC

Abstract

An integrated gyrokinetic particle simulation with turbulence and neoclassical physics in a diverted tokamak edge plasma has been performed. Neoclassical equilibrium gyrokinetic solutions in the whole edge plasma have been separated from the turbulence activities for the first time, using the massively parallel Jaguar XT3 computer at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. The equilibrium solutions in an H-mode-like edge plasma condition show strongly sheared global ExB and parallel flows in the entire edge plasma including the pedestal and scrape-off regions. In an L-mode-like edge plasma condition, the sheared flows in the pedestal layer are much weaker, supporting the conjecture that the neoclassical flow-shear may play a significant role in the H-mode physics.