ANNUAL REVIEW (2020-21)

Presented By Vijay Shankar

Under Guidance of Dr. Nirmal Bisai

1Institute
for Plasma Research, Bhat, Gandhinagar-382428, India
2Homi Bhabha National Institute (HBNI), Mumbai, 400094, India

Area of Research: Control of edge and Scrape-off layer Tokamak Plasma

Turbulence
 Introduction
• Boundary region of a tokamak plasma is highly turbulent due
to mainly interchange instability mechanism.

• The turbulence generates coherent density structures - blobs -

responsible for anomalous transport
->Following two are important
• Control of interchange turbulence
• The blob dynamics and its generation mechanism

• In this work, we have carried out the above two prospects.

Plasma instability in the boundary region
• Tokamak boundary regions -> edge and
scrape-off layer (SOL)
Edge: B closed themselves or form nested surface
a
SOL: B closed to the material plate or limiter that 𝑔 = 𝑐𝑠2 /𝑅
defines minor radius a.

• 𝛻𝑛 , 𝛻𝑇𝑒 or 𝛻𝑝𝑒 in the edge and SOL is very

sharp (𝛻𝑝𝑒 and 𝑔 are in opposite directions)
Plasma becomes unstable as high density is Edge SOL
suspended by low density in the presence of
effective gravity (𝑐𝑠2 /𝑅) -> analogous to RT instability
in neutral fluids and in tokamak it is interchange
instability.
• Detailed mechanism of the Interchange
instability can be described in terms of drift
𝑐𝑠2 /𝑅
wave instability mechanism.
 Drift waves
𝑛𝑒 This can be obtained from
= exp(𝑒𝜙/𝑇𝑒 )
𝑛0 momentum equation.

𝜕𝑛𝑖 /𝜕𝑡 + 𝑣𝐸𝑥 (𝜕𝑛0/𝜕𝑥) = 0 Ion conservation

equation.
where 𝑣𝐸𝑥 = 𝐸𝑦 × 𝐵 /𝐵02 .

𝜔 𝑧 × 𝛻𝑝𝑒
= 𝑣∗𝑒 = − Velocity of information
𝑘 𝑒𝑛𝑒 𝐵0 in poloidal direction.
If there is a phase difference (𝛿) between 𝑛𝑒 and
𝜙 ,the above wave will be unstable.
Diamagnetic drift
𝛿𝑛𝑒 𝑒𝜙
= (1 − 𝑖𝛿)
𝑛0 𝑇

𝑘𝑦 𝑣∗𝑒
𝜔= ≈ 𝑘𝑦 𝑣∗𝑒 (1 − 𝑖𝛿)= 𝜔𝑟 +𝑖𝛾
1−𝑖𝛿

𝛾 = 𝑘𝑦 𝑣∗𝑒 𝛿 This is growth rate.

 Plan of the talk
1. Finite electron temperature gradient effects on blob formation in the
scrape-off layer of a tokamak plasma

• Introduction of plasma blob

• Model equations & derivation of Plasma blob formation criteria
• Input parameters and boundary conditions
• Conclusions

2. Edge biasing and its impact on the edge and SOL turbulence
• Model equations
• Effect of biasing
• Simulation Results
• Conclusions
 Introduction of plasma blob

Toroidal
magnetic
field
𝑬 × 𝑩 drift

Electric field due to

charge separation
Model equations & derivation of Plasma blob
formation criteria
𝜕𝑛
+ 𝛻.(n𝑣)= 𝑆𝑛
𝜕𝑡

𝛻. 𝐽 = 0

3 𝜕𝑇𝑒
𝑛 + 𝑝𝑒 𝛻. 𝑣 = −𝛻. 𝑞 + 𝑆𝑇𝑒
2 𝜕𝑡

𝑑𝑈
𝑛𝑚𝑖 = 𝑛𝑒𝐸∥ − 𝑅𝑒𝑖 − 𝑆𝑇𝑒 𝑚𝑖 𝑈
𝑑𝑡

𝑑𝑉
𝑛𝑚𝑒 = −𝛻∥ 𝑝𝑒 − 𝑛𝑒𝐸∥ + 𝑅𝑒𝑖 − 𝑆𝑛 𝑚𝑒 𝑉
𝑑𝑡

Model is very similar to reference [6]

[6] N. Walkden et. al., Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion, 58(11):115010, (2016)
Derivation of Plasma blob formation criteria
𝜕𝑛
+ 𝛻. 𝑣𝑛 = 0
𝜕𝑡
Where 𝑋0 is streamer
𝑣 = 𝑣0 + 𝜉. 𝛻⊥ . 𝑣𝐸 +(𝜉∥ 𝛻∥ )𝑣∥ ; 𝜉 = (𝑋 − 𝑋0 ) breaking position

1 𝜕𝑛 1 𝜕𝑛 𝜕𝐸𝑥 1 𝜕𝑛 𝜕𝑛 𝜕𝐸𝑦
= 𝜉𝑥 + 𝜉𝑥 − 𝜉𝑦 expanding 𝑣 about 𝑣0
𝑛 𝜕𝑡 𝐵𝑛 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑥 𝐵𝑛 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑦
1 𝜕𝑛 𝜕𝐸𝑦 𝜉∥ 𝜕 2
− 𝜉 + (𝑛𝑣∥ )
𝐵𝑛 𝑦 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝑛 𝜕𝑧 2

𝛿𝑥 𝜕𝐸𝑥 1 𝜕𝐸𝑦 𝛿𝑦 𝜕𝐸𝑦 General Blob formation

+ + 𝛾𝐵𝛿 ≥1 criteria
𝛾𝐵𝛿𝑦 𝜕𝑥 𝛾𝐵 𝜕𝑥 𝑥 𝜕𝑦

First numerically has been

≥ 1 indicates total shear rate greater proposed in ref.[4] (for
than (1/𝑛)(𝜕𝑛/𝜕𝑡) uniform 𝑇𝑒)
Later it is modified with first
and second term in ref.[5].

[4] Bisai N., Das A., Deshpande S., Jha et.al Phys.Plasmas12102515
[5] Bisai N., Banerjee S. and Sen A. 2019 Phys. Plasmas26020701
Equations in dimensionless form
𝑑𝑛 𝜕 𝜕𝜙
= −𝛻 ∥ 𝑛𝑉 + 𝑔 𝑛𝑇𝑒 − 𝑛 + 𝐷𝛻 ⊥ 𝑛 + 𝑆𝑛
𝑑𝑡 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑦

𝑑𝛻⊥2 𝜙 2
𝑔 𝜕 𝛻∥ 𝐽∥
= −𝑈𝛻 ∥ 𝛻⊥ 𝜙 + 𝑛𝑇𝑒 + 𝜐𝛻⊥4 𝜙 +
𝑑𝑡 𝑛 𝜕𝑦 𝑛

𝑑𝑇𝑒 2 𝜕
= 0.71𝐽∥ 𝛻∥ 𝑇𝑒 − 𝛻∥ 𝑞∥ + 𝑛𝑇𝑒 𝛻∥ 𝜐∥ − 𝜂∥ 𝐽∥2 + 𝑛𝑇𝑒
𝑑𝑡 3𝑛 𝜕𝑦
2𝑔 𝜕𝑇𝑒 2
𝜕𝑛 𝜕𝜙 𝑉2 𝜕
+ 3.5𝑛𝑇𝑒 + 𝑇𝑒 − 𝑛𝑇𝑒 + 𝑛𝑇𝑒
3𝑛 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑦 𝜇 𝜕𝑦
2
𝑆𝑛 𝑉2 2 𝑆𝑛
−𝑉𝛻∥ 𝑇𝑒 + 𝑘𝑒 𝛻⊥ 𝑇𝑒 + + 𝑆 − + 𝑆𝑇𝑒
3𝜇𝑛 3𝑛 𝐸 𝑛

𝑑𝑈 𝑆𝑛 𝑈
= −𝑈𝛻∥ 𝑈 − 𝛻∥ 𝜙 + 𝜂∥ 𝐽∥ + 0.71𝛻∥ 𝑇𝑒 −
𝑑𝑡 𝑛

𝑑𝑉 𝛻∥ (𝑛𝑇𝑒 )
= 𝜇 𝛻∥ 𝜙 + 𝜂∥ 𝐽∥ + − 0.71𝛻∥ 𝑇𝑒 − 𝑉𝛻∥ 𝑉
𝑑𝑡 𝑛
Input parameters and boundary conditions
• Input parameters: 𝐵 = 1𝑇, 𝑇𝑒0 = 𝑇𝑖0 = 16𝑒𝑉, 𝑅 = 1.0𝑚, 𝑛0 = 5 × 1018 𝑚−3.
• Simple Cartesian 3D: x-> Radial, y-> Poloidal, z-> Toroidal
• Grids: 𝑁𝑥 = 196, 𝑁𝑦 = 128, 𝑁𝑧 = 16 𝐿𝑥 = 150 𝜌𝑠, 𝐿𝑦 = 128 𝜌𝑠, 𝐿𝑧 = 7854 𝜌𝑠.
• In the x-direction Neumann boundary condition for all variables and Dirichlet for 𝜙.
• In Y-direction periodic boundary has been applied for all variables.
• Neumann boundary at z = 0, on 𝑛, 𝑇𝑒, 𝛻2 𝜙 & 𝜙 and Dirichlet boundary for 𝑈 & 𝑉.

• At 𝑧 = +𝐿∥ variables 𝑛, 𝑇𝑒 , 𝛻2 𝜙 and 𝜙 are set no boundary conditions for (Sheath

physics)
U|𝑧=+𝐿∥ = 𝑇𝑒 , 𝑉|𝑧=+𝐿∥ = 𝑇𝑒 𝑒𝑥𝑝 −(Λ + 𝜙/𝑇𝑒 ) and
3/2
𝑞∥ |𝑧=+𝐿∥ = 𝑛𝑇𝑒 2 − Λ − 2.5 exp −(Λ + 𝜙/𝑇𝑒 ) − 0.5𝜇 exp −3(Λ + 𝜙/𝑇𝑒 )

10 exp(10𝑧/𝐿 ) 𝑥−𝑎 2
𝑆𝑛 = 𝛼𝑛 𝐿 exp 10 −1∥ exp − + 1/𝛼𝑛
∥ 𝜆2𝑠
2
5 exp(−5𝑧/𝐿∥ ) 𝑥−𝑎
𝑆𝑇𝑒 = 𝛼𝐸 exp − + 1/𝛼𝐸
𝐿∥ 1 − exp −5 𝜆2𝑠

• A 3D simulation has been performed for validation of blob formation criteria on the
Bout++ framework.
 Simulation Results

Plasma in parallel direction Plasma in perpendicular direction

 Simulation Results

Cross-correlation between 𝛾𝑛 and shears indicate they are correlated for a short
duration of time (𝜏𝑐 ) -> statistical validation
𝛾𝑛 ~1/𝜏𝑐
Simulation Results

Monopolar characteristic
of potential leads to
rotation of plasma blob.
 Simulation Results

𝜕𝐸𝑥 𝜕𝐸𝑦 𝜕𝐸𝑦

Calculation: = 3.0 × 105 , = 4.9 × 105 , = 6.0 × 105
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦
𝑐𝑆
𝛾= = 2.5 × 105 , 𝛿𝑥 = 𝛿𝑦
𝑅𝐿𝑛
𝛿𝑥 𝜕𝐸𝑥 1 𝜕𝐸𝑦 𝛿𝑦 𝜕𝐸𝑦 Hence blob formation
+ 𝛾𝐵 + 𝛾𝐵𝛿 = 5.6
𝛾𝐵𝛿𝑦 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑥 𝑥 𝜕𝑦 criterion is satisfied.
 Conclusions

• Plasma blob formation mechanism has been investigated theoretically

in the SOL region and the theoretical results have been validated
numerically using 3D simulations.

• Cross-correlations between γn and shears have been investigated.

• A dominant cross-correlation exists between 𝛾𝑛 & (1/B)∂Ey/∂y.

• Temperature gradient introduces significant changes in the criterion

through its contribution to electric field shear arising from the
presence of a monopolar component of the potential.

• This generalized blob formation criterion is valid in the SOL region

and can also be applicable to L-mode and H-mode discharges.
 Edge biasing and its
impact on the edge and
SOL turbulence
Basic equations to study for plasma blob formation

𝜕𝑛
+ 𝛻.(n𝑣)= 𝑆𝑛
𝜕𝑡

𝛻. 𝐽 = 0

3 𝜕𝑇𝑒
𝑛 + 𝑝𝑒 𝛻. 𝑣 = −𝛻. 𝑞 + 𝑆𝑇𝑒
2 𝜕𝑡
 Model equations
𝜕𝑛 𝜕𝑝𝑒 𝜕𝜙
= 𝜙, 𝑛 + 𝑔 −𝑛 + 𝐷𝛻⊥2 𝑛 − 𝜎0 𝜎 𝑥 𝑛 𝑇𝑒 exp Λ − 𝜙 𝑇𝑒
𝜕𝑡 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑦

+𝜒0 𝜒 𝑥 𝑇𝑒3 2
𝜙 − 𝑇𝑒 ln 𝑛 − 𝜎0 𝜎 𝑥 𝑛 𝑇𝑒 exp Λ − (𝜙−Λ𝑏 ) 𝑇𝑒 + 𝑆𝑛

𝜕𝛻⊥2 𝜙 𝑔 𝜕𝑝𝑒
= 𝜙, 𝛻⊥2 𝜙 + + 𝜐𝛻⊥4 𝜙 − 𝜎0 𝜎 𝑥 𝑇𝑒 1 − exp Λ − 𝜙 𝑇𝑒
𝜕𝑡 𝑛 𝜕𝑦
𝑇𝑒3 2
+𝜒0 𝜒 𝑥 𝜙 − 𝑇𝑒 ln 𝑛 − 𝜎0 𝜎 𝑥 𝑇𝑒 1 − exp Λ + (𝜙−Λ𝑏 ) 𝑇𝑒
𝑛

𝜕𝑇𝑒 2 𝜕𝑇𝑒 1 𝜕𝑝𝑒 𝜕𝜙 2

+ 𝑘𝑒 𝛻⊥2 𝑇𝑒 − 𝑓𝐸 𝜎0 𝜎 𝑥 𝑇𝑒3 2
= 𝜙, 𝑇𝑒 + 𝑔𝑇𝑒 2.5 + − exp Λ − 𝜙 𝑇𝑒
𝜕𝑡 3 𝜕𝑦 𝑛 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑦 3
2 2
− 𝑓𝐸 𝜎0 𝜎𝑏 𝑥 𝑇𝑒3 2
1 − exp Λ + (𝜙−Λ𝑏 ) 𝑇𝑒 + 𝑆𝑇𝑒
3 3
 Effect of biasing
• From vorticity equation excluding polarization drift (very
small)

𝑔 𝜕𝑝𝑒 𝜙−Λ𝑏
~𝜎0 𝑛 𝑇𝑒 1 − exp Λ −
𝑛 𝜕𝑦 𝑇𝑒

𝜙−Λ𝑏 𝑔
1 − exp Λ − ~ 𝑇𝑒
𝑇𝑒 𝜎0 𝐿𝑝

𝑔
• Here 𝐿𝑝 = − 𝑝𝑒 (𝜕𝑝𝑒 𝜕𝑥). For small magnitude of 𝑇𝑒
𝜎0 𝐿𝑝

𝑔
𝜙 ∼ Λ + Λ𝑏 𝑇𝑒 ± 𝑇𝑒
𝜎0 𝐿𝑝

• For 𝑔 = 1.0 × 10−3 , 𝜎0 = 2.0 × 10−4 , 𝐿𝑝 = 30, 𝑇𝑒 = 1 we get

𝑔
𝑇𝑒 ~0.17 but Λ + Λ𝑏 > 3 for positive Λ𝑏 .
𝜎0 𝐿𝑝

• So turbulence effectively can be controlled by Λ𝑏 .

 Simulation Results

Positive biasing is more effective than negative biasing.

 Simulation Results

Electrode in the inner edge region is more effective.

 Simulation Results

• Turbulent decorrelation rate (𝛾) and radial electric field shear are
found almost the same order of magnitude.

• 𝛾 decreases as shear of radial electric field increases.

 Conclusions and Future works
• Density and temperature gradient becomes more sharp at the point of
bias.
• Larger radial width of the electrode is more effective in the edge region.
• Electrode in the deep edge region is more effective .
• Decorrelation rate and the radial shear of radial the electric field have
almost same order of the magnitude.
• Positive biasing is more effective in comparison of the negative biasing

Future works:

• Most of the plasma in the SOL region is transported by plasma blobs in

the outward direction which can be given by blob fraction. Edge biasing
can affect the blob fraction in the SOL region. This effect will be
investigated in future.
• Cold ion approximation has been taken in the edge biasing case. In
future we will include ion dynamics. It can improve the negative biasing
effect.
• AC biasing also will be carried out in future
 Active Region and equilibrium profile

 1D equilibrium profiles of plasma density neq,

 Schematic diagram of the radial domain
ϕeq, Teq ,and Ueq .
considered for the simulations
 1D equilibrium profiles of plasma density neq,
 The regions from x = 0 to x = a, and from
potential φeq, temperature Teq and Ueq have
x = b to x = c are buffer regions, where a
been used as the initial condition for our
= 43ρs, b = 123ρs and c = 150ρs.
simulations.
 The red curve represents the particle and
 We have used Ueq = Veq.
temperature sources.
Backup slides for blob formation
 Simulation Results

 Radial profile of the plasma density and electron

 Variation of U and V as a function of z at an instant
temperature.
of time t = 0.38 ms.
 The profiles have been obtained by taking poloidal, toroidal
and long-time averages.

Backup slides for Blob formation

 Simulation Results

 (1/𝐵)𝜕𝐸𝑥/𝜕𝑥 is higher at the position (1.38 𝑐𝑚, 0.8 𝑐𝑚) at 𝑡1 than the shear at 𝑡2 (b). (b)
also indicates that the y-width of the shear becomes much narrower than in (a).
 (1/𝐵)𝜕𝐸𝑦/𝜕𝑥 has local minimum at (1.38 𝑐𝑚, 0.8 𝑐𝑚), during the time of breaking at 𝑡1 in
(a). After breaking at 𝑡2 , it does not change appreciably but extends in the x-direction as
plasma is still moving in the radial direction from the pinching point.

Backup slides for Blob formation

 Simulation Results

 Snapshot of blob formation at 𝑧 = 157.08 𝑐𝑚. Plots (a) and (c) show density (𝑐𝑚−3 ) before and after blob
formation.
 t1 and t2 indicate the time before and after blob formation.
 Plots (b) and (d) indicate the superposition of plasma density (contours) and potential (colormap) at these
two instants of time at the rectangular regions of (a) and (c).

Backup slides for Blob formation

Backup slides for Blob formation
 Biasing SCHEME

Backup slides for edge biasing

 Simulation Result For positive negative comparison

Backup slides for edge biasing

Simulation Result For radial variation of electrode position

Backup slides for edge biasing

Simulation Results For variation radial width of electrode
Simulation Result For variation radial width of electrode

Backup slides for edge biasing