Enhancement of the Bootstrap Current in a Tokamak Pedestal

Abstract

The strong radial electric field in a subsonic tokamak pedestal modifies the neoclassical ion parallel flow velocity, as well as the radial ion heat flux. Existing experimental evidence of the resulting alteration in the poloidal flow of a trace impurity is discussed. We then demonstrate that the modified parallel ion flow can noticeably enhance the pedestal bootstrap current when the background ions are in the banana regime. Only the coefficient of the ion temperature gradient drive term is affected. The revised expression for the pedestal bootstrap current is presented. The prescription for inserting the modification into any existing banana regime bootstrap current expression is given.