Coupled core, edge pedestal and SOL modeling in super H-mode experiments on DIII-D

A theory-based integrated modeling of Core, Edge pedestal, and Scrape-Off-Layer (CESOL) has been validated against DIII-D super H-mode discharges, optimizing the pedestal regime to enhance core performance and to manage plasma heat and particle exhaust. These regions are strongly coupled but governed by different physical processes, necessitating a quantitative understanding of the trade-offs or integration. CESOL utilizes an Integrated Plasma Simulator (IPS) workflow empowered by high-performance computing, comprising IPS-FASTRAN, IPS-EPED, and IPS-SOLPS-ITER. An edge-localized surrogate model based on SOLPS-ITER model aligns total particle and energy fluxes at the separatrix and determines the separatrix density and temperature for the boundary conditions of EPED. The response of pedestal pressure to the increased separatrix density observed in experiments is reproduced by IPS-EPED. For strongly shaped plasmas, IPS-EPED predicts multiple pedestal solutions, including a remarkable super H-mode solution in the peeling-limited regime. Core transport and confinement predicted by the TGLF depend strongly on the pedestal conditions determined by the CESOL simulations. CESOL will be employed for predictive modeling to optimize the core and edge simultaneously for DIII-D shape and volume rise studies.