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Zonal flows generated by small-scale drift-Alfven modes

Journal Article · · Physics of Plasmas
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.2192755· OSTI ID:20782743
; ; ; ; ; ;  [1]
  1. Institute of Nuclear Fusion, Russian Research Centre Kurchatov Institute, Kurchatov Sq., 1, Moscow 123182 (Russian Federation) and Nonlinear Physics Laboratory, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Institutskii per. 9, Dolgoprudnyi 141700, Moscow Region (Russian Federation)
The generation of zonal flows by small-scale drift-Alfven (SSDA) modes is investigated. It is shown that these zonal flows can be generated by a monochromatic wave packet of SSDA modes propagating in the ion diamagnetic drift direction. The corresponding zonal-flow instability resembles a hydrodynamic one. Its growth rate depends on the spectrum purity of the wave packet; it decreases for relatively weak spectrum broadening and the instability turns into a resonant one, and eventually is suppressed, as the broadening increases. A general conclusion of this work is that the SSDA modes are less effective for driving zonal flows than standard drift modes.
OSTI ID:
20782743
Journal Information:
Physics of Plasmas, Journal Name: Physics of Plasmas Journal Issue: 4 Vol. 13; ISSN PHPAEN; ISSN 1070-664X
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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