Suppression of phase mixing in drift-kinetic plasma turbulence

Journal Article · Fri Jul 15 00:00:00 EDT 2016 · Physics of Plasmas

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4958954· OSTI ID:22600012

Highcock, E. G. ^[1]; Schekochihin, A. A. ^[2]; Dellar, P. J. ^[3]

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1. Brasenose College, Radcliffe Square, Oxford OX1 4AJ (United Kingdom)
2. Rudolf Peierls Centre for Theoretical Physics, University of Oxford, 1 Keble Road, Oxford OX1 3NP (United Kingdom)
3. OCIAM, Mathematical Institute, University of Oxford, Andrew Wiles Building, Radcliffe Observatory Quarter, Woodstock Road, Oxford OX2 6GG (United Kingdom)

Transfer of free energy from large to small velocity-space scales by phase mixing leads to Landau damping in a linear plasma. In a turbulent drift-kinetic plasma, this transfer is statistically nearly canceled by an inverse transfer from small to large velocity-space scales due to “anti-phase-mixing” modes excited by a stochastic form of plasma echo. Fluid moments (density, velocity, and temperature) are thus approximately energetically isolated from the higher moments of the distribution function, so phase mixing is ineffective as a dissipation mechanism when the plasma collisionality is small.

• OSTI ID: 22600012
• Journal Information: Physics of Plasmas, Vol. 23, Issue 7; Other Information: (c) 2016 Author(s); Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 1070-664X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
DISTRIBUTION
DISTRIBUTION FUNCTIONS
FREE ENERGY
INHIBITION
LANDAU DAMPING
MIXING
PLASMA
PLASMA DENSITY
SPACE
STOCHASTIC PROCESSES
TURBULENCE
VELOCITY