Understanding nonlinear saturation in zonal-flow-dominated ion temperature gradient turbulence. (5th March 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Plunk, G G; Navarro, A Bañón; Jenko, F
• Is Part Of: Plasma physics and controlled fusion. Volume 57:Number 4(2015:Apr.)
• Publication Date: 2015-03-05
• Subjects: gyrokinetic theory -- zonal flows -- turbulence -- turbulence modeling; Plasma (Ionized gases) -- Periodicals; Controlled fusion -- Periodicals; 530.44
• DOI: 10.1088/0741-3335/57/4/045005
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0741-3335

Abstract

Abstract: We propose a quantitative model of ion temperature gradient driven turbulence in toroidal magnetized plasmas. In this model, the turbulence is regulated by zonal flows, i.e. mode saturation occurs by a zonal-flow-mediated energy cascade ('shearing'), and zonal flow amplitude is controlled by nonlinear decay. Our model is tested in detail against numerical simulations to confirm that both its assumptions and predictions are satisfied. Key results include (1) a sensitivity of the nonlinear zonal flow response to the energy content of the linear instability, (2) a persistence of zonal-flow-regulated saturation at high temperature gradients, (3) a physical explanation of the nonlinear saturation process in terms of secondary and tertiary instabilities, and (4) dependence of heat flux in terms of dimensionless parameters.