Abstract In this work, we cross-compare the state-of-the-art edge plasma codes SOLPS-ITER, SOLEDGE2D, and UEDGE in a reactor-relevant neon-seeded Divertor Tokamak Test (DTT) scenario at nominal power, extending the simplified test-bed of Moscheni et al. (2022). Converged solutions targeting the same separatrix density and radiated power are obtained by adjusting the pumping albedo and the neon puffing rate. This higher-power scenario is generally characterised by substantial disagreement between the three codes, up to 78-178% in peak heat fluxes. Discrepancies found in Moscheni et al. (2022) are indeed exacerbated, and new ones arise. Underlying causes include the over-penetration of neutrals implied by the unified ion-neutral temperature of UEDGE (observed in Moscheni et al. (2022)), here resulting in a 38-114% over-estimation of core plasma densities. The particular set of EIRENE atomic-molecular reactions adopted is found to stiffly restrict the achievable code solutions, which results in the predicted effective charge Z eff changing from ∽5 to ∽8 at the outer mid-plane separatrix. The strong link between Z eff, main ion density and unified ion temperature emphasises the need of proper assessments of impurity cross-field transport, with its implications on core contamination and wall erosion. The advantages of extended plasma meshes are found to come with associated modelling intricacies, yet to be fully characterised but seemingly impacting on the activity around the secondary X-point of single-null magnetic topologies. An appreciable impurity particle imbalance, generated by the neon ion density floor, is noted—speculatively contributing to SOLEDGE2D's different radiation emission distribution, and expected to be even more deleterious for high-Z impurities in all the codes. Potential drivers of further discrepancies are the different Braginskii formulations of collision times and momentum sources in presence of impurities, and the SOLPS-ITER extra terms gaining importance around the detachment front. Outstanding questions unanswered in this work prompt further investigations.
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