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Progress in Kinetic Simulation of Edge Plasmas
Author(s) -
Cohen R. H.,
Xu X. Q.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
contributions to plasma physics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.531
H-Index - 47
eISSN - 1521-3986
pISSN - 0863-1042
DOI - 10.1002/ctpp.200810038
Subject(s) - discretization , enhanced data rates for gsm evolution , kinetic energy , tokamak , physics , computational physics , plasma , magnetic field , moment (physics) , tempest , computer science , statistical physics , aerospace engineering , mechanics , classical mechanics , nuclear physics , mathematics , quantum mechanics , mathematical analysis , engineering , telecommunications , computer security
Kinetic codes are required for quantitative simulation of edge plasmas of most tokamaks, because orbit widths can be comparable to radial scale lengths and because mean free paths can be comparable to scale lengths along the magnetic field. However, the edge presents special challenges for edge simulation, both in terms of formulation and implementation. There are two major approaches to kinetic simulation, namely particle‐based and continuum‐ (high‐dimensional fluid‐) based. The edge presents challenges common to both approaches as well as ones that are unique to each approach. In this paper we review these challenges, and survey how they are being addressed in current edge kinetic simulation projects, as well as the status and accomplishments of those projects. We discuss in some detail the status and recent accomplishments of the U.S. Edge Simulation Laboratory (ESL), a project based on the continuum approach. The ESL currently consists of a main‐line effort to develop a code based on high‐order conservative finite‐volume discretization, as well as two prototype activities, TEMPEST and EGK. These prototype codes are exploring issues attached to energy‐magnetic moment and parallel velocity‐magnetic moment representations, respectively, as well as physics issues associated with simulation in a steep radial gradient region and a domain that includes both open field lines and closed flux surfaces. (© 2008 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)