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Accurate plasma boundary calculation using linear triangular finite elements

delete2025-06-01
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M
Marco Neri
P
Pasquale Zumbolo *
R
R. Albanese
DOI:10.1016/j.cpc.2025.109574delete
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Abstract

Abstract

En 中文
This paper presents a novel method for accurately tracing magnetic field lines. This procedure is of particular interest for axisymmetric nuclear fusion devices. The design of the plasma facing components in a tokamak strictly depends on the Scrape-Off Layer (SOL), a thin region of open field lines through which charged particles and energy flow out from the plasma core to the solid walls with a huge heat flux. The power exhaust issue is among the top priorities in the European Fusion Roadmap, hence the determination of the plasma boundary and SOL with a high accuracy is essential. Existing equilibrium codes using finite element formulations with linear triangles of mesh size h provide a piecewise constant magnetic flux gradient, resulting in coarse accuracy of the field lines in the SOL, with an error of order O(h), especially near the X-point where the flux gradient approaches zero. The proposed procedure is based on a method introduced in 2023, which achieves continuity and a convergence rate of order O for the magnetic flux gradient too. The magnetic poloidal flux is then approximated with a piecewise polynomial function of second or third degree in the triangles. A more accurate evaluation of the plasma boundary and SOL field lines is obtained, particularly near the X-point, which is no longer constrained to be a mesh node. The method has been successfully tested in two cases with available analytical solutions. It has also been used as a post-processor for the flat top configuration of the DTT tokamak obtained with the free boundary CREATE-NL+ equilibrium code. For a given accuracy, the computational cost of the procedure is significantly lower than alternative methods relying on finer first order discretization or techniques using triangular C1 finite elements.
Keywords:
Finite elements
MHD equilibrium solver
Tokamak
Calculation accuracy
Scrape-off layer
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Journal

Computer Physics Communications cover
Computer Physics Communications
IF:
3.4
Papers:
1.2W
Citations:
3.7W

Organization

U
Univ Napoli Federico II
Scholars:
445
Papers: 200
Citations: 59
U
Univ Padua
Scholars:
2.7K
Papers: 1.2K
Citations: 345
Cited Papers

Cited Papers

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The JOREK non-linear extended MHD code and applications to large-scale instabilities and their control in magnetically confined fusion plasmas
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errHoelzl, M.; Huijsmans, G. T. A.; Pamela, S. J. P.; Becoulet, M.; Nardon, E.; Artola, F. J.; Nkonga, B.; Atanasiu, C., V; Bandaru, V; Bhole, A.; Bonfiglio, D.; Cathey, A.; Czarny, O.; Dvornova, A.; Feher, T.; Fil, A.; Franck, E.; Futatani, S.; Gruca, M.; Guillard, H.; Haverkort, J. W.; Holod, I; Hu, D.; Kim, S. K.; Korving, S. Q.; Kos, L.; Krebs, I; Kripner, L.; Latu, G.; Liu, F.; Merkel, P.; Meshcheriakov, D.; Mitterauer, V; Mochalskyy, S.; Morales, J. A.; Nies, R.; Nikulsin, N.; Orain, F.; Pratt, J.; Ramasamy, R.; Ramet, P.; Reux, C.; Saerkimaeki, K.; Schwarz, N.; Verma, P. Singh; Smith, S. F.; Sommariva, C.; Strumberger, E.; van Vugt, D. C.; Verbeek, M.; Westerhof, E.; Wieschollek, F.; Zielinski, J.
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