Influence of plasma background on 3D scrape-off layer filaments

Abstract

This paper presents the effect of self-consistent plasma backgrounds, including plasma–neutral interactions, on the dynamics of filament propagation. The principle focus is on the influence of the neutrals on the filament through both direct interactions and through their influence on the plasma background. Both direct and indirect interactions influence the motion of filaments. A monotonic increase of filament peak velocity with upstream electron temperature is observed, while a decrease with increasing electron density is observed. If ordered by the target temperature, the density dependence disappears and the filament velocity is only a function of the target temperature. Smaller filaments maintain a density dependence as a result of the density dependence of the plasma viscosity. The critical size δ*, where filaments are at their fastest, is shifted to larger sizes for higher densities due to the plasma viscosity. If the density dependence of the plasma viscosity is removed, δ* has no density dependence, but rather a temperature dependence.