Drift wave driven zonal flows in plasmas

Journal Article · Thu Dec 15 04:00:00 EST 2005 · Physics of Plasmas

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.2151108· OSTI ID:20782384

Kaladze, T D; Wu, D J; Pokhotelov, O A; Sagdeev, R Z; Stenflo, L; Shukla, P K ^[1]

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1. Purple Mountain Observatory, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, 210008 (China) and Vekua Institute of Applied Mathematics, Tbilisi State University, 2 University Str., 0143 Tbilisi (Georgia)

The generation of large-scale zonal flows by small-scale electrostatic drift waves in a plasma is considered. The generation mechanism is based on the parametric excitation of convective cells by finite amplitude drift waves. To describe this process a generalized Hasegawa-Mima equation containing both vector and scalar nonlinearities is used. The drift waves are supposed to have arbitrary wavelengths (as compared with the ion Larmor radius). A set of coupled equations describing the nonlinear interaction of drift waves and zonal flows is deduced. The generation of zonal flows turns out to be due to Reynolds stresses produced by finite amplitude drift waves. It is found that the wave vector of the fastest growing mode is perpendicular to that of the drift pump wave. Explicit expressions for the maximum growth rate as well as for the optimal spatial dimensions of the zonal flows are obtained. A comparison with previous results is carried out. The present theory can be used for interpretations of drift wave observations in laboratory plasmas.

• OSTI ID: 20782384
• Journal Information: Physics of Plasmas, Journal Name: Physics of Plasmas Journal Issue: 12 Vol. 12; ISSN PHPAEN; ISSN 1070-664X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
AMPLITUDES
CHARGED-PARTICLE TRANSPORT
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
EXCITATION
IONS
LARMOR RADIUS
NONLINEAR PROBLEMS
PARAMETRIC INSTABILITIES
PLASMA
PLASMA DRIFT
PLASMA WAVES
REYNOLDS NUMBER
SCALARS
STRESSES
VECTORS