Particle-in-cell gyrokinetic simulation for fusion edge plasma dynamics

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 16H07419
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Research Field: Plasma science
• Research Institution: National Institute for Fusion Science
• Principal Investigator: Moritaka Toseo 核融合科学研究所, ヘリカル研究部, 助教 (20554372)
• Project Period (FY): 2016-08-26 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: ヘリカル核融合炉 / Particle-in-cell法 / ジャイロ運動論シミュレーション / 核融合炉周辺プラズマ

Outline of Final Research Achievements

A gyrokinetic particle-in-cell code has been developed for whole device modeling of helical magnetic fusion devices. This simulation code is an extended version of X-point Gyrokinetic Code compatible with non-axisymmetric magnetic field equilibria and unstructured triangular meshes. Core and edge regions of the magnetic fusion device are smoothly connected each other both in the magnetic field profile and the unstructured mesh. High-energy particle loss at the vacuum vessel and zonal flow damping along with GAM oscillation in the core region are successfully demonstrated by using the developed code. Previously these phenomena were considered by separated simulation models specific to particle tracing or plasma transport in the core region. This code can be useful to investigate turbulent transport in the edge region and core-edge coupling phenomena such as the H-mode transition.

Free Research Field

プラズマ物理学