Nonlinear dynamics of electrostatic ion-temperature-gradient modes in a dust-contaminated plasma with variable charge and sheared ion flows

Abstract

By employing Braginskii transport equations for ions and Boltzmann distribution for electrons in a dust-contaminated plasma with equilibrium density, temperature, and magnetic field gradients, the nonlinear set of equations are derived. New ion-temperature-gradient driven modes are obtained and various limiting cases are discussed. It is shown that the ion-temperature-gradient driven mode of drift-waves are attenuated in the presence of dust-charge fluctuations. It has been found that dust charging is always dissipative and the growth rate of various modes are damped. Furthermore, the possible stationary solution of the nonlinear mode coupling equations can be represented in the form of dipolar and vortex chains type solutions. The results of the present investigation should be helpful in understanding the fluctuations and transport phenomena in magnetically confined dustcontaminated tokamak plasma.