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Title: Bistable dynamics of turbulence spreading in a corrugated temperature profile

Abstract

We present a new model of turbulence spreading in magnetically confined plasma. A basic question in turbulence spreading is how to sustain finite amplitude fluctuations in a stable subcritical region, where linear dissipation of the turbulence is strong? The answer to this question relies on a consistent treatment of mesoscale temperature profile corrugation and microscale turbulence. We argue that inhomogeneous mixing of the turbulence corrugates the mean temperature profile and that the temperature corrugation then induces subcritical bifurcation of the turbulence. Thus, the system will transition from a metastable “laminar” state to an absolutely stable, excited state. Incorporating spatial coupling of the locally excited turbulent regions, a front forms. This front connects the excited and laminar states and penetrates the linear stable region efficiently. Here, we argue that such bistable turbulence spreading can explain observations of hysteresis in the intensity of L-mode core turbulence.

Authors:
 [1];  [1]
  1. Univ. of California, San Diego, CA (United States)
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Univ. of California, San Diego, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE Office of Science (SC)
OSTI Identifier:
1540124
Alternate Identifier(s):
OSTI ID: 1398124
Grant/Contract Number:  
FG02-04ER54738
Resource Type:
Accepted Manuscript
Journal Name:
Physics of Plasmas
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 24; Journal Issue: 10; Journal ID: ISSN 1070-664X
Publisher:
American Institute of Physics (AIP)
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY; Physics

Citation Formats

Guo, Z. B., and Diamond, P. H. Bistable dynamics of turbulence spreading in a corrugated temperature profile. United States: N. p., 2017. Web. doi:10.1063/1.5000850.
Guo, Z. B., & Diamond, P. H. Bistable dynamics of turbulence spreading in a corrugated temperature profile. United States. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5000850
Guo, Z. B., and Diamond, P. H. Thu . "Bistable dynamics of turbulence spreading in a corrugated temperature profile". United States. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5000850. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1540124.
@article{osti_1540124,
title = {Bistable dynamics of turbulence spreading in a corrugated temperature profile},
author = {Guo, Z. B. and Diamond, P. H.},
abstractNote = {We present a new model of turbulence spreading in magnetically confined plasma. A basic question in turbulence spreading is how to sustain finite amplitude fluctuations in a stable subcritical region, where linear dissipation of the turbulence is strong? The answer to this question relies on a consistent treatment of mesoscale temperature profile corrugation and microscale turbulence. We argue that inhomogeneous mixing of the turbulence corrugates the mean temperature profile and that the temperature corrugation then induces subcritical bifurcation of the turbulence. Thus, the system will transition from a metastable “laminar” state to an absolutely stable, excited state. Incorporating spatial coupling of the locally excited turbulent regions, a front forms. This front connects the excited and laminar states and penetrates the linear stable region efficiently. Here, we argue that such bistable turbulence spreading can explain observations of hysteresis in the intensity of L-mode core turbulence.},
doi = {10.1063/1.5000850},
journal = {Physics of Plasmas},
number = 10,
volume = 24,
place = {United States},
year = {Thu Oct 05 00:00:00 EDT 2017},
month = {Thu Oct 05 00:00:00 EDT 2017}
}

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Cited by: 5 works
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Works referencing / citing this record:

Subcritical turbulence spreading and avalanche birth
journal, March 2019

  • Heinonen, R. A.; Diamond, P. H.
  • Physics of Plasmas, Vol. 26, Issue 3
  • DOI: 10.1063/1.5083176

Scale selection and feedback loops for patterns in drift wave-zonal flow turbulence
journal, August 2019

  • Guo, Weixin; Diamond, Patrick H.; Hughes, David W.
  • Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion, Vol. 61, Issue 10
  • DOI: 10.1088/1361-6587/ab3831