UC San Diego

Abstract: Predictions of heat load widths λ_q based on particle orbits alone are very pessimistic. This paper shows that pedestal peeling-ballooning (P-B) MHD turbulence broadens the stable SOL by the transport, or spreading, of fluctuation energy from the pedestal. λ_q is seen to increase with Γ_ε, the fluctuation energy density flux. We elucidate the fundamental physics of the spreading process. Γ_ε increases with pressure fluctuation correlation length. P-B turbulence is seen to be especially effective at spreading, on account of its large effective mixing length. Spreading is shown to be a multiscale process, which is enhanced by the synergy of large and small-scale modes. Pressure fluctuation skewness correlates well with the spreading flux – with the zero crossing of skewness and Γ_ε spatially coincident – suggesting the role of coherent fluctuation structures and the presence of intermittency in λ_q broadening. λ_q~B_p^(-1) scaling persists for the broadened SOL. We show that the spreading flux increases for increasing pedestal pressure gradient ∇P_0 and for decreasing pedestal collisionality υ_ped^*. This trend is due to the dominance of peeling modes for large ∇P_0 and low υ_ped^*. Ultimately, we see that a state of weak MHD turbulence, as for small ELMs, is very attractive for heat load management. Our findings have transformative implications for future fusion reactor designs and call for experimental investigations to validate the observed trends.