Small scale coherent vortex generation in drift wave-zonal flow turbulence

Journal Article · Tue Dec 15 04:00:00 EST 2015 · Physics of Plasmas

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4938044· OSTI ID:22489922

Hahm, T. S. ^[1]; Diamond, P. H. ^[2]

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1. Seoul National University, Seoul 151-744 (Korea, Republic of)
2. CMTFO and CASS, University of California, San Diego, California 92093 (United States)

We present a paradigm for the generation of small scale coherent vortex (SSCV) in drift wave-zonal flow (DW-ZF) turbulence. We demonstrate that phases of DWs can couple coherently, mediated by the ZF shearing. A SSCV is formed when the phases of the DWs are “attracted” to form a stable “phase cluster.” We show that the ZF shearing induces asymmetry between “attractive” and “repulsive” phase couplings, so that a net attractive phase coupling results. The turbulent DWs will (partially)synchronize into a stable SSCV at locations, where the attractive phase coupling induced by the ZF shearing exceeds the “detuning” effects by the DW dispersion and random phase scattering. We also discuss the “self-binding” effect of the newly formed SSCV.

• OSTI ID: 22489922
• Journal Information: Physics of Plasmas, Journal Name: Physics of Plasmas Journal Issue: 12 Vol. 22; ISSN PHPAEN; ISSN 1070-664X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
ASYMMETRY
RANDOM PHASE APPROXIMATION
SCATTERING
SHEAR
TURBULENCE
VORTICES
WAVE PROPAGATION