Exploring SF- in-out asymmetry and detachment bifurcation in HL-2M with E × B by SOLPS

•The effect of E × B on SF- divertor in-out asymmetry and detachment bifurcation was investigated by SOLPS in this paper.•The Epol × B drift can play a key role on inducing the SF- in-out asymmetry due to the effective C screening capacity.•The detachment bifurcation also could occur in SF- under some given conditions.•The time-dependent detachment bifurcation process is simulated to best understand its physical picture.