Comparison of free-streaming ELM formulae to a Vlasov simulation

Abstract : The main drawbacks of the original free-streaming equations for edge localised mode transport in the scrape-off layer [W. Fundamenski, R.A. Pitts, Plasma Phys. Control Fusion 48 (2006) 109] are that the plasma potential is not accounted for and that only solutions for ion quantities are considered. In this work, the equations are modified and augmented in order to address these two issues. The new equations are benchmarked against (and justified by) a numerical simulation which solves the Vlasov equation in 1d1v. When the source function due to an edge localised mode is instantaneous, the modified free-streaming 'impulse response' equations agree closely with the Vlasov simulation results. When the source has a finite duration in time, the agreement worsens. However, in all cases the match is encouragingly good, thus justifying the applicability of the free-streaming approach.