Diffusive–convective transition for scrape-off layer transport and the heat-flux width

Transport of plasma from the edge pedestal gradient region into the scrape-off layer (SOL) forms the heat exhaust channel. The properties of this channel are critical for future tokamak devices. The SOL heat-flux width is believed to be set by a competition between classical parallel transport and turbulent cross-field transport. In previous work, (Myra et al 2011 J. Nucl. Mat.415 S605) focusing on modeling of the heat-flux width in the National Spherical Torus Experiment (NSTX), the possibility of a transition from quasi-diffusive to convective transport in the SOL was noticed. This transition, and the scaling of the heat-flux width, is explored here through additional SOL turbulence simulations using the SOLT code (Russell et al 2009 Phys. Plasmas16 122304). At the transition, the transport becomes intermittent, and the SOL width is broadened due to blob emission. Critical parameters for the transition are investigated, including the power flux into the SOL, the field line pitch, the connection length and the plasma collisionality. An inverse dependence of the heat-flux width on the poloidal field, also seen routinely in experiments, is noted and explained qualitatively.