Comparison of plasma parameters between QH and ELMing phases of the same discharges

H-mode confinement is observed for many energy confinement times without edge localized modes (ELMs) in QH (quiescent high-confinement)-mode discharges in DIII–D. To determine the critical differences between ELMing and QH modes we compared electron temperature (Te), density (ne), and ion temperature (Ti), in the pedestal (ped) and scrape-off layer (SOL) for a group of discharges. We also compared the electron pressures Pped, and maximum pressure gradient ∇maxPe,ped because of their importance in confinement and stability. Experimental results show that the core line averaged density, median Te,ped, Te,SOL, and Te,ped width, and Ti,SOL are nearly the same in QH mode as that during ELMs. The ne,ped (average), ne,ped width, Pped, and ∇maxPe,ped are similar to corresponding values in QH mode and at various times between ELMs. However, the median Ti,ped is 1.6 times higher in QH mode than during ELMing.