Edge stability analysis of ITER baseline plasma simulations

A stability analysis using equilibria from CORSICA transport simulations finds that the maximum stable pedestal pressure in ITER 15 MA baseline plasma is 110 kPa corresponding to a pedestal temperature of 5.9 keV. The height of the stable pedestal is robust for the assumption of the pedestal height varying only by about 10% if the width of the pedestal is varied by 30%. A conducting first wall has a stabilizing effect on the peeling-ballooning modes that limit the edge pressure. However, the stabilization is unlikely to significantly change the stability limits, but could affect the ELM dynamics by lowering the growth rate of the ELM triggering peeling-ballooning modes. The entire pedestal region is stable against n = ∞ ballooning modes for all studied pedestal temperatures. This is due to the high bootstrap current keeping the magnetic shear in the region of large pressure gradient.