A “SuperCode” for Systems Analysis of Tokamak Experiments and Reactors

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Abstract
A new code, named SUPECODE, has been developed to fill the gap between currently available zero dimensional systems codes and highly sophisticated, multidimensional plasma performance codes. The former are comprehensive in content, fast to execute, but rather simple in terms of the accuracy of their physics and engineering models. The latter contain state-of-the-art plasma physics modeling but are limited in engineering content and are time consuming to run. The SUPECODE upgrades the reliability and accuracy of systems codes by calculating the self consistent 1 1/2-D plasma evolution in a realistic engineering environment. By a combination of variational techniques and careful formulation there is only a modest increase in CPU time over 0-D runs, thereby making the SUPECODE suitable for use as a systems studies tool. In addition, we have expended considerable effort to make the code user- and programmer-friendly, as well as operationally flexible, with the hope of encouraging wide usage throughout the fusion community.