Results of recent modeling of tokamak edge plasma with the turbulence code BOUT are presented. In previous studies with BOUT the background profiles of plasma density and temperature were set as flux surface functions. However in the divertor region of a tokamak the temperature is typically lower and density is higher than those at the mid-plane. To account for this in the present study a poloidal variation of background plasma density and temperature is included to provide a more realistic model. For poloidally uniform profiles of the background plasma the calculated turbulence amplitude peaks near outer mid-plane, while in the divertor region the amplitude is small. However, present simulations show that as the background plasma profiles become more poloidally non-uniform the amplitude of density fluctuations, {tilde n}{sub i}, starts peaking in the divertor. It is found that in the divertor region the amplitude of n{sub i} fluctuations grows approximately linearly with the local density of the background plasma, n{sub i0}, while the amplitude of T{sub e} and {phi} fluctuations is positively correlated with the local electron temperature, T{sub e0}. Correlation analysis shows that plasma turbulence is isolated by the x-points.

Journal of a trip to a GAR encampment in Washington, DC. Very detailed description of his trip to the White House. Includes description of a day spent sight seeing in Cleveland, OH on the return trip to Michigan.

Results are presented from the 3D electromagnetic turbulence code BOUT, the 2D transport code UEDGE, and theoretical analysis of boundary turbulence and transport in a real divertor-plasma geometry and its relationship to the density limit. Key results include: (1) a transition of the boundary turbulence from resistive X-point to resistive-ballooning as a critical plasma density is exceeded; (2) formation of an X-point MARFE in 2D UEDGE transport simulations for increasing outboard radial transport as found by BOUT for increasing density; (3) formation of a density pedestal due to neutral fueling; (4)identification of convective transport by localized plasma 'blobs' in the SOL at high density and decorrelation of turbulence between the midplane and the divertor leg due to strong X-point magnetic shear; (5) a new divertor-leg instability driven by a radial tilt of the divertor plate.