Particle transport studies for single-null divertor discharges in DIII-D

In this paper an investigation of the particle confinement for beam-heated single-null discharges in the open divertor configuration of Doublet III-D (DIII-D) [E. J. Doyle et al., Phys. Fluids B 3, 2300 (1991)] is described. Results are based on a Monte Carlo neutral transport model with a relatively simple plasma model that utilizes experimental data on density, temperature, and heat flux profiles in the edge plasma. For a typical discharge, it is found that the particle confinement time in the quiescent H-mode phase is only about a factor of 2 larger than during the L-mode phase, an increase comparable to the energy confinement time increase. For both H-mode and L-mode phases the particle confinement time is about a factor of 4 larger than the energy confinement time. It is also found that the core plasma fueling rate is higher in the H mode due to the increased transparency of a thinner scrape-off layer. The longer particle confinement time and the increased fueling rate both contribute to the observed density rise during the quiescent period following the L–H transition. Flux surface-averaged transport modeling of the time evolution for the core plasma density profile during H mode suggests that a strong inward particle pinch is necessary near the separatrix.