Nonlinear saturation of the slab ITG instability and zonal flow generation with fully kinetic ions

Miecnikowski, Matthew T.; Sturdevant, Benjamin J.; Chen, Yang; Parker, Scott E.

doi:10.1063/1.5011681

Nonlinear saturation of the slab ITG instability and zonal flow generation with fully kinetic ions

Journal Article · Fri Mar 09 00:00:00 EST 2018 · Physics of Plasmas

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5011681· OSTI ID:1473697

Miecnikowski, Matthew T. ^[1]; Sturdevant, Benjamin J. ^[2]; Chen, Yang ^[1]; Parker, Scott E. ^[1]

Univ. of Colorado, Boulder, CO (United States)
Univ. of Colorado, Boulder, CO (United States); Princeton Plasma Physics Lab. (PPPL), Princeton, NJ (United States)

Fully kinetic turbulence models are of interest for their potential to validate or replace gyrokinetic models in plasma regimes where the gyrokinetic expansion parameters are marginal. Here, we demonstrate fully kinetic ion capability by simulating the growth and nonlinear saturation of the ion-temperature-gradient instability in shearless slab geometry assuming adiabatic electrons and including zonal flow dynamics. The ion trajectories are integrated using the Lorentz force, and the cyclotron motion is fully resolved. Linear growth and nonlinear saturation characteristics show excellent agreement with analogous gyrokinetic simulations across a wide range of parameters. The fully kinetic simulation accurately reproduces the nonlinearly generated zonal flow. In conclusion, this work demonstrates nonlinear capability, resolution of weak gradient drive, and zonal flow physics, which are critical aspects of modeling plasma turbulence with full ion dynamics.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL), Princeton, NJ (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE

Grant/Contract Number:: FG02-08ER54954

OSTI ID:: 1473697

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 1425247

Journal Information:: Physics of Plasmas, Journal Name: Physics of Plasmas Journal Issue: 5 Vol. 25; ISSN 1070-664X

Publisher:: American Institute of Physics (AIP)Copyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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