Linear Analysis and Verification Suite for Edge Turbulence Simulations

Research in fusion energy is becoming increasing reliant on large-scale plasma simulation for both scientific understanding and hardware design. The accuracy and reliability of software codes must be insured through rigorous verification and validation. The edge physics simulation projects currently being undertaken in the US and international communities could benefit greatly from standardized benchmarks. Measurement of the linear growth rate of unstable modes emerging from a known, established equilibrium configuration provides one of the few quantitative ways of rigorously benchmarking turbulence codes with each other and with a universal standard. This project will develop a suit of such standards. The proposed suite, will be a community wide benchmarking/verification tool for nonlinear edge plasma simulation codes, and will have stand-alone uses for the analysis of experiments and for the theoretical study of edge plasmas. The phase I project: (i) developed a new prototype code, (ii) carried out extensive benchmarking tests of the code, and (iii) demonstrated methods for the incorporation of kinetic physics extensions to the fluid model. The Phase II project will complete the development of the code, document standardized test suites, and perform physics applications and dedicated benchmarking with the two community nonlinear kinetic edge codes. Commercial Applications and other Benefits as described by the awardee: Limited funding available to the development teams for the edge turbulence simulation projects in the US has resulted in even less resources being available for verification and benchmarking studies. The proposed linear code suite is applicable to verification work as well as to experimental modeling and theoretical studies.