Numerical methods for 3D tokamak simulations using a flux-surface independent grid

A numerical approach for 3D Tokamak simulations using a flux surface independent grid is presented. The grid consists of few poloidal planes with a Cartesian isotropic grid within each poloidal plane. Perpendicular operators can be discretised within a poloidal plane using standard second order finite difference methods. The discretisation of parallel operators is achieved with a field line following map and an interpolation. The application of the support operator method to the parallel diffusion operator conserves the self-adjointness of the operator on the discrete level and keeps the numerical decay rate at a low level. The developed numerical methods can be applied to geometries where an X-point is present. (copyright 2014 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH and Co. KGaA, Weinheim) (orig.)