Rapidly-convergent flux-surface shape parameterization

We propose a novel flux-surface parameterization suitable for local MHD equilibrium calculations with strongly-shaped flux surfaces. The method is based on a systematic expansion in a small number of intuitive shape parameters, and reduces to the well-known Miller D-shaped parameterization in the limit where some of the coefficients are set to zero. The new parameterization is valid for up-down asymmetric plasmas and provides an improvement to the Miller form. Simultaneously, the method is rapidly convergent and requires only about half the number of shape parameters as a general Fourier representation in the pedestal.

Automated summary

The proposed novel flux-surface parameterization is suitable for strong-shaped flux surfaces and is based on a systematic expansion in shape parameters, offering an improvement to the Miller form and requiring only half the number of shape parameters as a general Fourier representation in the pedestal.