Spectral energy transfer, generation of zonal flows and their role in confinement transitions

Michael G. Shats*, Hua Xia, Horst Punzmann, Wayne M. Solomon

*Corresponding author for this work

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    2 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    An overview of recent results related to the physics of turbulent structure generation and their interactions in the H-1 heliac is presented. In particular, the role of zonal flows, or time-varying shear radial electric fields, in anomalous transport and confinement transitions is investigated. It is shown that large-scale coherent structures, including zonal flows, are generated through an inverse energy cascade from the unstable spectral range. Once developed, zonal flows affect other turbulent structures and reduce the particle transport driven by them. The phase randomization of coherent structures by zonal flows is shown to be responsible for reducing the anomalous transport. Zonal flows are also shown to act as precursors during spontaneous low-to-high transitions in H-1.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)279-287
    Number of pages9
    JournalFusion Science and Technology
    Volume46
    Issue number2
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - Sept 2004

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