Pedestal and scrape-off layer dynamics in ELMy H-mode plasmas in JET

Abstract

Pedestal and scrape-off layer (SOL) dynamics due to edge localized modes (ELMs) have been studied on JET with improved diagnostic capability. The new high resolution Thomson scattering system enables detailed measurement of the space and time evolution of the Te and ne pedestal profiles. The pedestal and SOL dynamics for type I ELMy H-mode plasmas have been studied for a wide range of plasma conditions. During a short period of <200 µs after the ELM event radial profiles of filaments in the SOL electron density and temperature have been observed. After that period the SOL density is increased and remains high for several milliseconds. During the same period the electron temperature shows no increase compared with the pre-ELM values. This SOL dynamics has been observed for a wide range of plasma parameters and is independent of plasma pedestal collisionality. For the first time on JET the convective and conductive ELM energy losses have been quantified using the new kinetic profile measurements. The findings provide detailed confirmation of earlier observations based on different measurements and analysis. The pedestal region perturbed by the ELM is the same for both density and temperature and the ELM effect extends up to about 20% of minor radius. The convective energy losses do not vary significantly and are ∼5% of the pedestal stored energy (Wped) over a large range of pedestal collisionality from below to above whereas the conductive losses strongly decrease from ∼20% of Wped to 5% of Wped with increasing . The experimental observations are compared with a simple model based on losses being driven by parallel transport.