Edge turbulence and divertor heat flux width simulations of Alcator C-Mod discharges using an electromagnetic two-fluid model

The BOUT++ code has been utilized in order to improve the understanding of the role of turbulent modes in controlling edge transport and resulting scaling of the scrape-off layer (SOL) heat flux width. For the C-Mod enhanced D_α (EDA) H-mode discharges, BOUT++ six-field two-fluid nonlinear simulations show a reasonable agree- ment of upstream turbulence and divertor target heat flux behavior: a) The simulated quasi-coherent modes (QCMs) show consistent characteristics of the frequency versus poloidal wave number spectra of the electromagnetic fluctuations when compared with experimental measurements: frequencies are around 60-120 kHz (experiment: about 70-110 kHz), k_θ are around 2.0 cm^₋1 which is similar to the Phase Contrast Imaging data; b) Linear spectrum analysis is consistent with the nonlinear phase relationship cal- culation which indicates the dominance of resistive-ballooning modes and drift-Alfven wave instabilities; c) The SOL heat flux width λ_q vs current I_p scaling is reproduced by turbulent transport: the simulations yield similar λ_q to experimental measurements within a factor of 2. Yet the magnitudes of divertor heat fluxes can be varied, depending on the physics models, sources and sinks, sheath boundary conditions, or flux limiting coefficient; d) Simple estimate by the "2-point model" for λ_q is consistent with simulation. Moreover, blobby turbulent spreading is confirmed for these relatively high B_p shots.