The parallel flows in the H-mode edge of ASDEX Upgrade are investigated. Beam-based charge-exchange recombination spectroscopy (CXRS) provides the toroidal and poloidal impurity flow velocities at the outboard midplane, while a deuterium-puff based CXRS measurement provides the toroidal impurity flow velocities at the inboard midplane. In order to more easily compare these measurements to fundamental boundary conditions, a basic overview of flows on a flux surface is presented. The boundary conditions are given by the continuity equation and mean that the flow velocities on a flux surface must have a specific structure in order to provide zero divergence. At first, poloidal impurity density asymmetries and radial transport are neglected. Inside of the pedestal-top of the electron density profile the measurements agree with the postulated flow structure, while they do not agree at the pedestal itself. Here, an extension of the theoretical scheme, which allows for a poloidal impurity density asymmetry, suggests that the measured flow velocities could be explained by an excess impurity density at the inboard midplane. In detail, the inboard impurity density is postulated to be at the separatrix up to a factor of 6.5 higher than impurity density at the outboard midplane. Near the pedestal-top of the electron density, this asymmetry disappears. Radial transport is considered as an explanation for that asymmetry. A conclusive disentanglement of the driving mechanisms requires further investigation.
Comparison of neoclassical predictions with measured flows and evaluation of a poloidal impurity density asymmetry