Edge plasma codes, such as SOLPS, are widely used to study plasma transport in tokamaks scrape-off layers (SOL). The possibility to apply these codes to non hydrogenic plasmas and to linear plasma devices (LPDs) is gaining the interests of the fusion community. These facilities play a pivotal role in plasma-material interaction (PMI) studies for future fusion devices and may allow to test the code capabilities both in terms of geometry and simulated plasma species. In this contribution, we apply the SOLPS-ITER code for the simulations of Argon plasmas in the medium-flux linear machine GyM. A sensitivity scan over the pumping efficiency, transport coefficients and absorbed electron power was done, performing B2.5-EIRENE coupled simulations. A quantitative analysis of the different flux contributions is provided through the use of a twopoint modelling. Comparison with experiments shows a promising qualitative and quantitative agreement, with the sole exception of the simulated neutrals pressure. Dedicated EIRENE standalone simulations were performed to investigate this issue, also highlighting the role of neutral-neutral elastic collisions at high values of the puffing intensity.
Linear plasma devices represent an essential tool for nuclear fusion research, whereby understanding crucial aspects related to plasma-wall interactions or edge plasma behaviour. Simplified models are of great importance to complement and integrate experimental and simulation results of complex systems such as plasmas in linear machines, because they are fast and simple to employ. In this work, we present a global volume-averaged (0D) model for plasma investigation in linear machines. The 0D model equations are based on the space integration of the state of the art edge plasma model implemented in the SOLPS-ITER code. Comparisons between helium plasmas described with 2D simulations performed with SOLPS-ITER and with the 0D model highlight that contributions often neglected in tokamak edge models, e.g. electron-neutral excitation, may be relevant when describing weakly ionized plasmas in linear devices. The model is used to perform sensitivity studies with respect to several parameters and to analyse the time evolution of the system, leading to the identification of two relevant time scales governing the system. Lastly, a comparison of 0D results with experimental data from the linear device GyM is performed, showing satisfactory agreement. Our methods and results provide crucial interpretative keys in the investigation of the physics of edge plasmas.
Plasma-wall interaction (PWI) is a great challenge in the development of a nuclear fusion power plant. To investigate phenomena like erosion of plasma-facing components, impurity transport and redeposition, one needs reliable numerical tools for the description of both the plasma and the material evolution. The development of such tools is essential to guide the design and interpretation of experiments in present and future fusion devices. This contribution presents the first global simulation of PWI processes in a linear plasma device mimicking the boundary plasma conditions in toroidal ones, including both the description of plasma and impurity transport and of plasma-facing material evolution. This integrated description is obtained by coupling two of the state-of-the-art numerical codes employed to model the plasma boundary and the PWI, namely SOLPS-ITER and ERO2.0. Investigation of helium plasma is also of primary importance due to the role helium will have during ITER Pre-Fusion Power Operation, when it is planned to be used as one of the main plasma species, as well as fusion ash in Full Power Operation. The plasma background is simulated by SOLPS-ITER and the set of atomic reactions for helium plasmas is updated, including charge-exchange and radiative heat losses. ERO2.0 is used to assess the surface erosion in the GyM vessel, using different wall materials (e.g. carbon, iron or tungsten) and applying different biasing voltage. Eroded particles are followed within the plasma to assess their redeposition location. The ionization probability of the different materials in the GyM plasma is inferred through the energy distribution of impacting particles and its effects on migration are investigated.
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