Models of SOL transport and their relation to scaling of the divertor heat flux width in DIII-D

Abstract Strong support for the critical pressure gradient model for the heat flux width has been obtained, in that the measured separatrix pressure gradient lies below and scales similarly to the pressure gradient limit obtained from the ideal, infinite-n stability codes, BALOO and 2DX, in all cases that have been examined. Predictions of a heuristic drift model for the heat flux width are also in qualitative agreement with the measurements. These results have been obtained using an improved high rep-rate and higher edge spatial resolution Thomson scattering system on DIII-D to measure the upstream electron temperature and density profiles. In order to compare theory and experiment, profiles of density, temperature, and pressure for both electrons and ions are needed as well values of these quantities at the separatrix. A simple method to identify a proxy for the separatrix has been developed to do so.