Simulation of edge localized modes using BOUT++

The BOUT++ code is used to simulate edge localized modes (ELMs) in a shifted circle equilibrium. Reduced ideal MHD simulations are first benchmarked against the linear ideal MHD code ELITE, showing good agreement. Diamagnetic drift effects are included finding the expected suppression of high toroidal mode-number modes. Nonlinear simulations are performed, making the assumption that the anomalous kinematic electron viscosity is comparable to the anomalous electron thermal diffusivity. This allows simulations with realistically high Lundquist numbers (S = 108), finding ELM sizes of 5–10% of the pedestal stored thermal energy. Scans show a strong dependence of the ELM size on resistivity at low Lundquist numbers, with higher resistivity leading to more violent eruptions. At high Lundquist numbers relevant to high-performance discharges, ELM size is independent of resistivity as hyper-resistivity becomes the dominant dissipative effect.