Stephanie Allen

Simulation of experimentally achieved DIII‐D detached plasmas using the UEDGE code

The introduction of a divertor Thomson scattering system in DIII‐D [J. Luxon et al., International Conference on Plasma Physics and Controlled Nuclear Fusion (International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna, 1986), p. 159] has enabled accurate determination of the plasma properties in the divertor region. Two plasma regimes are identified: detached and attached. The electron temperature in the detached regime is about 2 eV, much lower than 5–10 eV determined earlier. Fluid models of the DIII‐D scrape‐off layer plasma successfully reproduce many of the features of these two regimes, including the boundaries for transition between them. Detailed comparison between the results obtained from the fluid models and experiment suggest the models underestimate the spatial extent of the low‐temperature region associated with the detached plasma mode. Low‐temperature atomic physics processes that are not included in the present models may account for this discrepancy.