Is Onsager symmetry relevant in the transport equations for magnetically confined plasmas

Journal Article · Fri Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1991 · Physics of Fluids B; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.859855· OSTI ID:5838375

Balescu, R ^[1]

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1. Physique Statistique et Plasmas, Association Euratom-Etat Belge pour la Fusion, CP 231, Universite Libre de Bruxelles, Campus Plaine, 1050 Bruxelles, Belgium (BE)

A global, algebraic view of the transport processes in a magnetically confined plasma is developed. Both the neoclassical (banana) and the anomalous transport matrices are represented in a factorized form, thus separating the roles of the dynamics and of the geometric constraints. The self-adjointness of the collision operator (the sole condition for classical Onsager symmetry) is shown to be a necessary, but not sufficient condition for this symmetry in confined plasmas. The latter results for the banana transport matrix from a delicate relationship between dynamic and geometric components. This structure is not present in the anomalous transport matrix, and the Onsager symmetry is broken in this case. It is stressed that the symmetry breaking does not violate any general principles.

• OSTI ID: 5838375
• Journal Information: Physics of Fluids B; (USA), Journal Name: Physics of Fluids B; (USA) Vol. 3:3; ISSN 0899-8221; ISSN PFBPE
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
700103* -- Fusion Energy-- Plasma Research-- Kinetics
BANANA REGIME
COLLISIONAL PLASMA
CONFINEMENT
DYNAMICS
MAGNETIC CONFINEMENT
MATRICES
MECHANICS
ONSAGER RELATIONS
PLASMA
PLASMA CONFINEMENT
SYMMETRY
TRANSPORT THEORY
TRAPPING