Abstract
The equilibrium solution of the Grad-Shafranov equation in the form of the 2D function of poloidal flux ψ and of the F(ψ) = RBφ function and the pressure p(ψ) profile offers fundamental information about the tokamak plasma state. The combination of these functions provides complex information about the plasma such as the topology, plasma currents, and the magnetic field.
As a consequence, knowledge of tokamak plasma equilibrium plays a key role in all aspects of tokamak fusion research and design. Thus, equilibrium analysis tools are part of the most of simulation codes, and they are included among the equipment of many tokamak plasma scientists.
Nevertheless, a unified and universal package for simple and fast manipulation of equilibria is still missing. In this contribution, we present a new open-source python package PLEQUE (PLasma EQUilibrium Enjoyment) which aims to solve this issue.
We focus on four aspects of the package. Firstly, we introduce methods used for the input analysis, which allow obtaining self-consistent information (e.g., x-point, magnetic axis, strike-points, or plasma boundary).
Secondly, we discuss its possibility to be integrated with other codes via the IMAS (ITER Integrated Modelling & Analysis Suite) or standard equilibrium g-eqdsk format. The ability to read some real tokamak machine equilibria is demonstrated as well.
Thirdly, we show the simple high-level interface to obtain the requested data as efficiently and smoothly as possible. The interface allows an elegant ability to work with various tokamak coordinate system and to map profiles of various quantities of psi to the plasma equilibrium.
Finally, applications for field line tracing will be demonstrated.