Dependence of Pedestal Structure on Ip and Bt

1. NSTX Supported by Dependence of Pedestal Structure on Ip and Bt A. Diallo, R. Maingi, S. Zweben, B.P. LeBlanc, B. Stratton, J. Menard, S. Gerhardt, J. Canick, A. McClean, S. Kubota, Y. Ren, et al. XP Group Review

2. Pedestal Structure and Stability are Tightly Coupled • Pedestal height and gradient increase until an ELM is triggered. • The peeling ballooning stability sets the critical pressure gradient. • The kinetic ballooning mode turbulence have been proposed to set the pedestal width. • Combination of the two constraints yields the pedestal height. • We plan on testing the applicability of model such as EPEDxx on NSTX. This model has had some success with higher R/a tokamaks (AUG, DIIID, C-MOD, JET): Specifically, we will test the peeling ballooning pressure gradient constraint. • Initial analysis will attempt to differentiate pedestal width and height scalings based on ρ* and βpol. • We propose to vary the current and the magnetic field to generate pedestal structure data over a wide range of Bt and Ip. As a by-product of these scans, we will assess the impact of turbulence on the pedestal using using fluctuation diagnostics from this and other XPs. • Systematic experiments using high resolution edge diagnostics are required. In the case of NSTX, we conditionally average the MPTS profiles to enhance the pedestal resolution. 2 NSTX Boundary Physics TSG Review Study of Pedestal Structure (Diallo) March 12, 2010

3. Analysis of existing database shots shows large dataset near 0.44 T but limited systematic discharges for higher Bt Time of maximum electron energy >0.5s Outergap ~ 10 cm Ip > 0.6MA P_NBI > 3.5MW, Deuterium gas fuelling, No lithium Shot list provided by M. Bell and S. Gerhardt 3 3 NSTX Boundary Physics TSG Review Study of Pedestal Structure (Diallo) March 12, 2010

4. Example Conditionally-Averaged Profile Reconstructions (I) Conditionally averaging enables better spatial resolution of the profile gradients. 5 5 NSTX Boundary Physics TSG Review Study of Pedestal Structure (Diallo) March 12, 2010

5. Example Conditionally-Averaged Profile Reconstructions (II) Preliminary analysis show modest variations of the pedestal heigh and width: need dedicated scans to insure the same conditions and better statistics, and fluctuations measurements in the pedestal region.

6. Goal is to Obtain Complete, Broad Measurements of the Pedestal height and Width • This XP targets FY 2011 Joint Research Milestone on pedestal physics: • ``Conduct experiments on major fusion facilities to improve the understanding of the physics mechanisms responsible for the structure of the pedestal and compare with the predictive models described in the companion theory milestone. [..] Initial measurements of the turbulence in the pedestal region will also be performed to improve understanding of the relationship between edge turbulent transport and pedestal structure.’’ • Perform systematic scan of Ip and Bt (keeping the shaping constant) to maximize the range of achievable pedestal height in the Peeling Ballooning limit (ELMy regimes). • Current pedestal height on NSTX ranges between 2 - 6 kPa with some sparse high pedestals pressure obtained last run campaign. • Test the KBM hypothesis: the pedestal width scaling can be assessed in Maingi’s XP as a wider range can be achieved. • Assess the impact of turbulence on pedestal structure using the V-band reflectometer, which will cover deep into the pedestal. 6 NSTX Boundary Physics TSG Review Study of Pedestal Structure (Diallo) March 12, 2010

7. Addition of the V-Band Reflectometer to Obtain Radial Profile of the Density Fluctuations in the Pedestal Region Pedestal region V-band 8 Channels Q-band 8 Channels A combination of both the Q- and V- band reflectometers will enable unprecedented spatial resolution in the pedestal and SOL especially in high performance discharges. 7 NSTX Boundary Physics TSG Review Study of Pedestal Structure (Diallo) March 12, 2010

8. Run Plan: Fine Ip Scan for three Bt Settings (1 run day) Keep δ between 0.7 and 0.8 & drsep ~ - 0.05cm - 1cm EFC coils as early as possible Outer gap should remain at 10 cm for optimum MPTS resolutions Source A (60 ms) + B (80 ms) + C (200 ms) at nominal voltage Elmy H-mode is needed 1.Setup D2 plasma with Ip = 700 kA, 1. 3 MA, 1.2MA at BT = 5.0 kG [9 shots] 2. Repeat for 5.5 kG for Ip = 700 kA, 1.2MA, and 1.0 MA [9 shots] 3. Reduce Bt to 4.5 kG, for Ip = 700kA, 1.2MA, and 900kA [9 shots] 4. Fill in shots as needed in steps of 100kA for good pedestal profile analysis 8 NSTX Boundary Physics TSG Review Study of Pedestal Structure (Diallo) March 12, 2010

9. Requirements & Analysis • Diagnostics & Machine: • Thomson scattering, MSE, ERD, CHERS, reflectometers, High-k, BES,GPI • Need LITERs for divertor conditioning • Source A + B + C @Nominal voltage • Might need the V-band reflectometer • Array of analysis tools: • EFIT, kinetic EFIT,Osborne profile analysis tools, • ELITE, PEST, M3D 9 NSTX Boundary Physics TSG Review Study of Pedestal Structure (Diallo) March 12, 2010

10. Characteristics of Discharge Compatible with Parameter Space Scans targeted by this XP 4 4 NSTX Boundary Physics TSG Review Study of Pedestal Structure (Diallo) March 12, 2010

11. Effect of Lithium on Electrons Pressure Profile I Post-Li Pre-Li Elmy

12. Range of Pedestal Collisionality