A first-principles self-consistent model of plasma turbulence and kinetic neutral dynamics in the tokamak scrape-off layer

A first-principles self-consistent model that couples plasma and neutral physics suitable for the simulation of turbulent plasma behavior in the tokamak SOL is presented. While the plasma is modeled by the drift-reduced two fluid Braginskii equations, a kinetic model for the neutrals is developed, valid in short and in long mean free path scenarios. The model includes ionization, charge-exchange, recombination, and elastic collisional processes. The solution of the neutral kinetic equation is implemented within the GBS plasma turbulence code [Ricci et al, Plasma Phys. Contr. Fusion 54, 124047 (2012)] and it is performed by using the method of characteristics. The details of the numerical implementation are discussed. Finally, we show initial results of the first self-consistent simulations of plasma turbulence and neutral dynamics. PACS numbers: 52.25.Ya, 52.35.Ra, 52.25.Xz, 52.55.Fa, 52.65