Linear analysis of SPARC H-mode pedestal stability using M3D-C1

Linear MHD stability and response simulations with M3D-C1 are performed to describe edge-localized mode (ELM) growth and the response to resonant magnetic perturbations (RMPs) in SPARC H-mode plasmas. H-mode operation on the SPARC tokamak [Creely 2020 JPP] will require mitigation of large ELMs [Hughes 2020 JPP] to avoid severe transient thermal loading to plasma-facing components. RMPs [Evans 2004 PRL] are an option for ELM control on SPARC. To assess ELM stability and RMP effects in SPARC plasmas, a family of kinetic equilibria is generated with varied H-mode density and temperature profiles based on the SPARC primary reference discharge using the VARYPED code. The free-boundary Grad-Shafranov equation is solved for each equilibrium using the high-fidelity extended-MHD code M3D-C1 [Jardin 2012 CSD], including self-consistent coil currents. Linear MHD stability simulations using M3D-C1 reveal that these kinetic equilibria exhibit ELM-like modes. Estimates for SPARC plasma stability across peeling-ballooning space are found for equilibria with various pedestal pressures and current densities. The linear plasma response to applied RMPs is also calculated.