Turbulent relaxation patterns in SOL plasma

R Varennes (1) , G Dif-Pradalier (2) , P Ghendrih , V Grandgirard , O Panico (3) , Y Sarazin , E Serre , D Zarzoso (4)

1 NTU - Nanayang Technological University
2 IRFM - Institut de Recherche sur la Fusion par confinement Magnétique
3 LPP - Laboratoire de Physique des Plasmas
4 M2P2 - Laboratoire de Mécanique, Modélisation et Procédés Propres

Relaxations of localized over-density in a plane transverse to the magnetic field are numerically investigated under the effect of drift-wave and interchange drives in SOL conditions. Such a controlled departure from thermodynamic equilibrium allows the investigation of fundamental processes at play in cross-field transport. Interchange instabilities generate ballistic outward radial flux with low amplitude zonal flow patterns, whereas drift-wave instabilities result in symmetric radial flux with large amplitude zonal flow patterns. When both instabilities are considered, the combined effects tend to favor drift-waves, leading to a weaker outward flux with larger zonal flow patterns.

Domaines: Physique des plasmas [physics.plasm-ph]

R Varennes, G Dif-Pradalier, P Ghendrih, V Grandgirard, O Panico, et al.. Turbulent relaxation patterns in SOL plasma. Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion, 2024, 66 (10), pp.105008. ⟨10.1088/1361-6587/ad705c⟩. ⟨hal-04599956⟩