Abstract Details
Abstracts
Author: Feng Zhichen
Requested Type: Consider for Invited
Submitted: 2026-02-26 06:10:04
Co-authors: J. Myra, S. Parker
Contact Info:
University of Colorado, Boulder
2000 Colorado Ave
Boulder, CO 80309
USA
Abstract Text:
Understanding the locality of high-temperature plasma energy deposition on the material surfaces is critical for reactor design. Here, we utilize gyrokinetic simulation together with SOLPS-ITER for the background equilibrium electric field including drifts, to model the heat flux at the divertor plate and characterize the heat load width using realistic X-point geometry. We use a theory-based blobby transport model called the “Coherent Structure Transport” (CST) model to include the effect of turbulent plasma transport in the edge scrape-off layer. The CST model is extremely fast and can be used to quickly analyze any SOLPS-ITER solution. SOLPS-ITER provides the steady state, or equilibrium on which we superimpose blobby turbulence characterized by blob size, amplitude and frequency. We obtain the 1/Bp scaling of the heat load width in agreement with the Eich empirical scaling and with the Goldston heuristic theory. We demonstrate the CST model for the DIII-D Wide Pedestal Quasi-Coherent Mode. When including blobby turbulence in combination with the SOLPS-ITER electric field, we find a secondary peak in the heat flux radial profile, outwardly displaced from the strike point that increases with blob intensity. We describe the CST model in detail and provide initial investigations of the scaling of the heat load width and the secondary heat flux peak with blob size and amplitude.
Reference: “A coherent structure transport model for scrape-off layer turbulence,” Z. Feng, J. Myra, J. Cheng, C. Haubrich, Y. Chen, X. Ma, D. Ernst, S. Parker ArXiv 2602.21151 (2026), https://arxiv.org/abs/2602.21151
Characterization: 2.0
Comments: