Recent advances in gyrokinetic full-f particle simulation of medium sized tokamaks with ELMFIRE

Large‐scale kinetic simulations of toroidal plasmas based on first principles are called for in studies of transition from low to high confinement mode and internal transport barrier formation in the core plasma. Such processes are best observed and diagnosed in detached plasma conditions in mid‐sized tokamaks, so gyrokinetic simulations for these conditions are warranted. A first principles test‐particle based kinetic model ELMFIRE [1] has been developed and used in interpretation [1, 2] of FT‐2 and DIII‐D experiments. In this work we summarize progress in Cyclone (DIII‐D core) and ASDEX Upgrade pedestal region simulations, and show that in simulations the choice of adiabatic electrons results in quenching of turbulence.