Effects of two-dimensional magnetic uncertainties and three-dimensional error and perturbation fields on the Small Angle Slot divertor geometry and topology

Abstract

The Small Angle Slot (SAS) was recently installed on DIII-D as an advanced divertor, promising easier plasma detachment and lower temperatures across the whole target. A twofold study of the SAS magnetic geometry and topology is presented in this paper. On one hand, a two-dimensional uncertainty quantification analysis is carried out through a Monte Carlo approach in order to understand the level of accuracy of two-dimensional equilibrium computations in reconstructing the strike point and angle onto the divertor. Under typical experimental conditions, the uncertainties are found to be roughly 6.8 mm and 0.56 deg, respectively. On the other hand, a three-dimensional ‘vacuum’ analysis is carried out to understand the effects of typical external perturbation fields on the scrape-off layer topology. When the non-axisymmetric I-coils are switched on, poloidally-localized lobes are found to appear, grow, and hit the SAS target, although barely, even for 5 kA; at the same time, the strike point modulation is found to be roughly 1.8 mm and thus negligible for most purposes. Such results complement previous two-dimensional analyses in characterizing typical SAS equilibria and provide useful background information for planning and interpreting SAS experiments.