ISSN:
1089-7674
Source:
AIP Digital Archive
Topics:
Physics
Notes:
The nonlinear mode structure and anomalous momentum transport of the electrostatic parallel velocity shear instability in a uniformly magnetized slab were studied using three-dimensional (3-D) nonlinear fluid simulations. Within this simplified model, the system depends upon two dimensionless parameters α=2πqRρs/Lv2, which is a ratio of the sound transit time to the linear growth time of the mode and ρ(circumflex)=ρs/LV, which is a ratio of the ion Larmor radius and the radial scale length of the parallel velocity profile. In the limit of ρ(circumflex)=0, the mode structure evolved nonlinearly to a state with m=2/α and n=1 for α〈1, and m=2 and n=α for α〉1 where m is the poloidal mode number and n is the toroidal mode number. The transport had a value of D∼ρscs/2 for all α. For ρ(circumflex)≠0 the system displayed a different saturated state, evolving to m=1 and n=α/2 for all α. The transport remained D∼ρscs/2 for all α. The effect of the Larmor radius is this 3-D system is similar to the well known inverse cascade in a two-dimensional incompressible fluid. © 1997 American Institute of Physics.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.872090
