SICAS, a new code featuring SOLPS-ITER coupled to ASTRA-STRAHL for integrated plasma transport modeling

We present a new code, SICAS (SOLPS-ITER Coupled to ASTRA-STRAHL), which provides for the first time self-consistent background plasma and impurity transport from the edge to the core. SICAS iteratively performs simulations in ASTRA-STRAHL and SOLPS-ITER exchanging power and particle fluxes, densities, temperatures, and anomalous transport coefficients in an overlapping region located between the core boundary of SOLPS-ITER and the separatrix. Initial tests of SICAS have been performed on DIII-D discharges which cover several scenarios, configurations, and plasma species. The SICAS results are compared to experimental findings and results from SOLPS-ITER and ASTRA-STRAHL without SICAS being used. These results have replicated H-mode pedestals as well as the unique behavior of the negative triangularity edge. SICAS simulations have been in good agreement with the experimental profiles of densities and temperatures located at the outer midplane. The preliminary results also show noticeable changes around the X-point due to the new SOLPS-ITER sourcing from the core computed by ASTRA-STRAHL. This code provides a new approach to integrated modeling enabling a self-consistent treatment of the plasma transport connecting the core, the edge, and the scrape-off layer regions.