Nonlinear edge localized mode with impurity seeding in CFETR hybrid scenario

TL;DR

This paper uses nonlinear MHD simulations to understand how impurity seeding influences edge localized modes in fusion plasmas, revealing key mechanisms and control parameters for ELM mitigation.

Contribution

It provides new insights into the physics of impurity-seeded ELMs and identifies critical parameters affecting ELM onset and energy loss in CFETR scenarios.

Findings

Impurity seeding modifies pedestal pressure and triggers high-n ballooning modes.

Critical control parameters include impurity density and seeding location.

Simulation reproduces key features of natural ELM crashes.

Abstract

A critical challenge for operating fusion burning plasma in high confinement mode lies in mitigating damage caused by edge localized modes (ELMs). While impurity seeding has been experimentally validated as a reliable and effective ELM mitigation technique, its underlying physics remains insufficiently understood and requires further clarification. Through nonlinear magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) simulations, this work reproduces key features of natural ELM crash and reveals its trigger mechanism. Impurity seeding significantly affects nonlinear ELM dynamics by inducing local and global modifications to the pedestal pressure profile, driving high-n ballooning mode instabilities that govern ELM crash. Two critical control parameters -- impurity density level and poloidal seeding location -- are systematically investigated, which play key roles in the ELM crash onset timing and the resulting energy loss magnitude.