An edge-localized mode ("ELM") is a disruptive instability occurring in the edge region of a tokamak plasma due to the quasi-periodic relaxation of a transport barrier previously formed during an L --> H transition (ie in H-mode). This phenomenon was first observed in the ASDEX tokamak in 1981.
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Impact
The development of edge-localized modes poses a major challenge in magnetic fusion research with tokamaks, as these instabilities can damage wall components, particularly divertor plates, due to their extremely high energy transfer rate (GW/m2).
Simulation - modelling
In 2006 an initiative (called Project Aster) was started to simulate a full ELM cycle including its onset, the highly non-linear phase, and its decay. However, this did not constitute a 'true' ELM cycle, since a true ELM cycle would require modeling the slow growth after the crash, in order to have a second ELM. In 2015, results of the first simulation to demonstrate repeated ELM cycling was published. A key element to obtaining repeated relaxations was to include diamagnetic effects in the model equations. Diamagnetic effects have also been shown to expand the size of the parameter space in which solutions of repeated sawteeth can be recovered compared to a resistive MHD model.
Prevention - control
Research involving prevention of edge localized mode formation is underway. A paper was recently published that suggested a novel method of countering this phenomenon by injecting static magnetic noisy energy into the containment field as a containment-stabilization regime; this may decrease ELM amplitude. ASDEX Upgrade has had some success using pellet injection to increase the frequency and thereby decrease the severity of ELM bursts.
Control in practice
As of late 2011, several research facilities including KSTAR have demonstrated active control (suppression) of some types of this phenomenon.