In–out divertor flow asymmetries during ELMs in ASDEX Upgrade H-mode plasmas

Abstract In ASDEX Upgrade, a fast reciprocating probe positioned in the lower divertor, capable of accessing the low-field side (LFS) and high-field side (HFS) scrape-off layer (SOL) just below the x-point, as well as the private flux region, was equipped with a Mach head and used to investigate fast flow fluctuations and in–out divertor flow asymmetries during ELMs. We compare the flow behaviour during ELMs in the three separate regions. Flow enhancement is observed in the HFS SOL, with Mach number values reaching or exceeding M = 2, flow reversal in the LFS SOL, and complex fluctuating behaviour in the private flux region (which includes flow reversal). We discuss the possible mechanisms that could drive these observations.