Numerical study of drift wave turbulence with simple models for wave--wave nonlinear coupling

Journal Article · Sat Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1983 · Phys. Fluids; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.864004· OSTI ID:6614582

Waltz, R E

Scattering experiments in tokamaks show a broad drift wave frequency spectrum ..delta omega../..omega..approx.O(1) at fixed wavenumbers indicating a strong turbulent state with unstable drift modes strongly decorrelated at a rate ..delta omega.. by nonlinear wave--wave coupling to stable modes. In this paper a two-dimensional study of homogeneous stationary drift wave turbulence with simple models of the wave--wave coupling is described. It shows that linearly driven-damped stationary states exist and demonstrates that approximate weak coupling theories based on the direct interaction approximation (DIA) can provide a faithful and practical description of the turbulence. In addition, it is found that simple models which include nonlinear E x B as well as nonlinear polarization drift coupling are in rough agreement with the experimental turbulence levels, transport coefficients, and decorrelation rates.

• Research Organization: General Atomic Company, San Diego, California 92138
• DOE Contract Number: AT03-76ET51011
• OSTI ID: 6614582
• Journal Information: Phys. Fluids; (United States), Vol. 26:1
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
PLASMA
DRIFT INSTABILITY
TURBULENCE
DAMPING
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
NUMERICAL DATA
SCATTERING
TOKAMAK DEVICES
TWO-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS
CLOSED PLASMA DEVICES
DATA
INFORMATION
INSTABILITY
PLASMA INSTABILITY
PLASMA MICROINSTABILITIES
THERMONUCLEAR DEVICES
700108* - Fusion Energy- Plasma Research- Wave Phenomena