Calculation of the radial electric field in the DIII-D tokamak edge plasma

The application of a theoretical framework for calculating the radial electric field in the DIII-D tokamak edge plasma is discussed. Changes in the radial electric field are correlated with changes in many important edge plasma phenomena, including rotation, the L-H transition, and ELM suppression. A self-consistent model for the radial electric field may therefore suggest a means of controlling other important parameters in the edge plasma. Implementing a methodology for calculating the radial electric field can be difficult due to its complex interrelationships with ion losses, rotation, radial ion fluxes, and momentum transport. The radial electric field enters the calculations for ion orbit loss. This ion orbit loss, in turn, affects the radial ion flux both directly and indirectly through return currents, which have been shown theoretically to torque the edge plasma causing rotation. The edge rotation generates a motional radial electric field, which can influence both the edge pedestal structure and additional ion orbit losses. In conjunction with validating the analytical modified Ohm’s Law model for calculating the radial electric field, modeling efforts presented in this dissertation focus on improving calculations of ion orbit losses and x-loss into the divertor region, as well as the formulation of models for fast beam ion orbit losses and the fraction of lost particles that return to the confined plasma. After rigorous implementation of the ion orbit loss model and related mechanisms into fluid equations, efforts are shifted to calculate effects from rotation on the radial electric field calculation and compared to DIII-D experimental measurements and computationally simulated plasmas. This calculation of the radial electric field will provide a basis for future modeling of a fast, predictive calculation to characterize future tokamaks like ITER.Ph.D