A two-dimensional finite element model of the edge plasma (Q1346539)

Edge plasma in a fusion device is that region of transition where the high temperature dense core plasma practically meets the physical walls of the vessel. In this paper a new computational model is proposed to describe its behaviour, based on the discretized version of Braginskij- type plasma fluid equations and on a one-energy-group neutral particle diffusion equation. In order to yield an accurate approximate solution of the original nonlinear partial differential equations where significant values of the first derivative occur, the discretized nonlinear algebraic equations are solved by a damped modified Newton iteration scheme. The paper reports not only on the capabilities of the numerical method, but also on the improvements of edge plasma modelling (e.g. inclusion of two- energy-group diffusion, charge exchange, non-orthogonal grid, etc.).