Coherent Structure Phenomena in Drift Wave-Zonal Flow Turbulence

Journal Article · Mon Jan 17 04:00:00 EST 2000 · Physical Review Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.84.491· OSTI ID:20215242

Smolyakov, A I ^[1]; Diamond, P H ^[2]; Malkov, M ^[2]

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1. Department of Physics and Engineering Physics, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, S7N 5E2 Canada (Canada)
2. Department of Physics, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093 (United States)

Zonal flows are azimuthally symmetric plasma potential perturbations spontaneously generated from small-scale drift-wave fluctuations via the action of Reynolds stresses. We show that, after initial linear growth, zonal flows can undergo further nonlinear evolution leading to the formation of long-lived coherent structures which consist of self-bound wave packets supporting stationary shear layers. Such coherent zonal flow structures constitute dynamical paradigms for intermittency in drift-wave turbulence that manifests itself by the intermittent distribution of regions with a reduced level of anomalous transport. (c) 2000 The American Physical Society.

• OSTI ID: 20215242
• Journal Information: Physical Review Letters, Journal Name: Physical Review Letters Journal Issue: 3 Vol. 84; ISSN 0031-9007; ISSN PRLTAO
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
FLOW STRESS
PLASMA DRIFT
PLASMA POTENTIAL
THEORETICAL DATA
TURBULENCE
WAVE PACKETS