Theory and numerical simulations on collisionless drift instabilities in three dimensions

Technical Report · Tue Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1977

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5208158· OSTI ID:5208158

Cheng, C. Z.; Okuda, H.

Nonlinear behavior of the collisionless drift instabilities and the resultant anomalous plasma diffusion have been studied by means of computer simulations and analytic theory. The simulation model used is a full three dimensional electrostatic model in a cylindrical geometry in an external magnetic field. Full dynamics is employed for the ion motion while the guiding center approximations are used for the motion of electrons which allows us to use rather realistic plasma parameters in the simulations. The results of simulations indicate that a strong turbulence develops through the nonlinear interaction of the drift instabilities which results in the formation of convective cells and anomalous particle diffusion. The broad frequency spectrum resembles to those observed recently in toroidal confinement devices. Analytic theory is developed based on the mode-coupling process to explain the generation of convective cells and strong plasma turbulence along with the estimate of the resultant particle diffusion.

• Research Organization: Princeton Univ., NJ (USA). Plasma Physics Lab.
• DOE Contract Number: EY-76-C-02-3073
• OSTI ID: 5208158
• Report Number(s): PPPL-1397
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
700107* -- Fusion Energy-- Plasma Research-- Instabilities
ANALYTICAL SOLUTION
COLLISIONLESS PLASMA
COUPLING
DRIFT INSTABILITY
INSTABILITY
NONLINEAR PROBLEMS
PLASMA
PLASMA DRIFT
PLASMA INSTABILITY
PLASMA MICROINSTABILITIES
PLASMA SIMULATION
PLASMA WAVES
TURBULENCE