Numerical analysis of divertor asymmetry induced by differential divertor biasing

Abstract

The effect of differential divertor biasing on the outer/inner divertor asymmetry is investigated using a one-dimensional (1D) model in which the drift flow and ballooning-like transport are included. The simulation results show that (i) the outer/inner divertor asymmetries change with the applied divertor biasing, (ii) the change in divertor asymmetries induced by differential divertor biasing depends on the sign of the applied electric potential, (iii) the divertor asymmetries approach constant values with further increasing the positive divertor biasing or with decreasing the negative divertor biasing, (iv) differential divertor biasing can control the divertor asymmetry more effectively in the high recycling regime than in the low recycling regime. In addition, the effects of the E × B drift and ballooning-like transport on the variation in divertor asymmetry induced by differential divertor biasing are also discussed in this paper.