Simulation of plasma transport in the linear plasma device MPS-LD by SOLPS-ITER

Abstract

• The direct imposing particle source is the suitable method to model the plasma source for the SOLPS-ITER modeling of plasma transport in linear device. • The MPS-LD can achieve plasma detachment by increasing the equivalent H + injection rate (source strength). • The combination of high heating power and short device length significantly raise the plasma parameters near the target. Linear plasma devices are the ideal devices to simulate the divertor conditions of tokamak experimentally. The Multiple Plasma Simulation Linear Device (MPS-LD) is under construction at Dalian University of Technology with a focus of studying the plasma-material interactions (PMIs) and edge plasma transport. Before the experiment, numerical modeling plays a crucial role in predicting the main plasma parameters and discharge performance. To this end, simulations are carried out by using scrape-off layer plasma simulation code SOLPS-ITER for the designing studies of MPS-LD in the present work. The effects of particle source simulation method, heating power, and device chamber length on the plasma are investigated systemically. The simulation demonstrates that the direct imposing particle source in the source region is suitable for handling the plasma source. The radiation region, recombination front region and recombination region are formed during plasma transport. Enhancing the plasma source strength can promote the achievement of plasma detachment. The helicon source with a 6kW radio frequency power source can only obtain the maximum electron density of 5 × 10 18 m -3 and electron temperature of 2 eV in the vicinity of the target. Raising the heating power and shortening the distance from the plasma source to the target can significantly increase the plasma parameters at the target.