Predicting operational windows of ELMs suppression by resonant magnetic perturbations in the DIII-D and KSTAR tokamaks

A newly developed plasma response model, combining the nonlinear two-fluid MHD code TM1 and toroidal MHD code GPEC run in ideal mode, quantitatively predicts the narrow isolated q(95) windows (Delta q(95) similar to 0.1) of edge-localized mode (ELM) suppression by n=1, 2, and 3 resonant magnetic perturbations (RMPs) in both DIII-D and KSTAR tokamaks across a wide range of plasma parameters. The key physics that unites both experimental observations and our simulations is the close alignment of essential resonant q-surfaces and the location of the top of the pedestal prior to an ELM. This alignment permits an applied RMP to produce field penetration due to the lower ExB rotation at the pedestal top rather than being screened. The model successfully predicts that narrow magnetic islands form when resonant field penetration occurs at the top of pedestal, and these islands are easily screened when q(95) moves off resonance, leading to very narrow windows of ELM suppression (typically Delta q(95) similar to 0.1). Furthermore, the observed reduction in the pedestal height is also well captured by the calculated classical collisional transport across the island. We recover observed q(95), beta (N) and plasma shape dependence of ELM suppression due to the effect of magnetic islands on pedestal transport and peeling-ballooning-mode stability. Importantly, experiments do occasionally observe wide windows of ELM suppression (Delta q(95) > 0.5). Our model reveals that at low pedestal-top density multiple islands open, leading to wide operational windows of ELM suppression consistent with experiment. The model indicates that wide q(95) windows of ELM suppression can be achieved at substantially higher pedestal pressure with less confinement degradation in DIII-D by operating at higher toroidal mode number (n=4) RMPs. This can have significant implications for the operation of the ITER ELM control coils for maintaining high confinement together with ELM suppression.