Flux-driven integrated modelling of main ion pressure and trace tungsten transport in ASDEX Upgrade

TLDR: In this paper, the quasilinear gyrokinetic code QuaLiKiz is applied for successful predictions of core kinetic profiles in an ASDEX Upgrade H-mode discharge in the turbulence dominated region within the integrated modelling suite JETTO.

Abstract: Neoclassical and turbulent heavy impurity transport in tokamak core plasmas are determined by main ion temperature, density and toroidal rotation profiles. Thus, in order to understand and prevent experimental behaviour of W accumulation, flux-driven integrated modelling of main ion heat and particle transport over multiple confinement times is a vital prerequisite. For the first time, the quasilinear gyrokinetic code QuaLiKiz is applied for successful predictions of core kinetic profiles in an ASDEX Upgrade H-mode discharge in the turbulence dominated region within the integrated modelling suite JETTO. Neoclassical contributions are calculated by NCLASS; auxiliary heat and particle deposition profiles due to NBI and ECRH are prescribed from previous analysis with TRANSP. Turbulent and neoclassical contributions are insufficient in explaining main ion heat and particle transport inside the q  =  1 surface, necessitating the prescription of further transport coefficients to mimic the impact of MHD activity on central transport. The ion to electron temperature ratio at the simulation boundary at p tor=0.85 stabilizes ion scale modes while destabilizing ETG modes when significantly exceeding unity. Careful analysis of experimental measurements using Gaussian process regression techniques is carried out to explore reasonable uncertainties. In following trace W impurity transport simulations performed with additionally NEO, neoclassical transport under consideration of poloidal asymmetries alone is found to be insufficient to establish hollow central W density profiles. Reproduction of these conditions measured experimentally is found possible only when assuming the direct impact of a saturated (m, n) = (1, 1) MHD mode on heavy impurity transport.