The impact of resonant magnetic perturbations (RMPs) on the plasma edge equilibrium and on the turbulence is investigated in a circular limited configuration. The study is based on a Braginski-based isothermal fluid model. The flow response of an unperturbed case to a small amplitude three-dimensional single mode RMP is studied and a scan in amplitude and poloidal and toroidal mode number is performed. Special attention is given when magnetic islands appear in the simulation domain on flux surfaces of rational safety factor. Results show an impact of magnetic perturbations (MPs) on both the plasma equilibrium and on the turbulence properties, with a deviation to the reference solution which depends on the MPs amplitude and on their wavenumbers. The impact of MPs on turbulence is however globally weaker than on the plasma equilibrium, suggesting a stabilizing effect of the MP on turbulent transport. Experimental trends are recovered such as the density pump-out and the increase of the radial electric field as well as the reorganization of the parallel velocity. The ballooning of the transport is modified under the effect of the perturbations, with a shift of the peaked poloidal region from the upper to the lower outer midplane. In the present model, the SOL width is observed decreasing in the presence of MPs. Turbulence properties are also impacted with the density fluctuations level decreasing in perturbed solutions and the intermittency is globally weakened.
Effect of resonant magnetic perturbations on particle confinement