Nonlinear gyrokinetic Vlasov equation for toroidally rotating axisymmetric tokamaks

Abstract

The nonlinear gyrokinetic Vlasov equation is derived for an arbitrary magnetized plasma in a local reference frame moving with the nonuniform equilibrium fluid velocity u(r). The derivation of the guiding-center and gyrocenter Hamilton equations, which appear as the characteristics of the gyrokinetic Vlasov equation, is based on the use of Lie-transform perturbation techniques. Although a general form for u is initially used, attention is later focused on an incompressible toroidal equilibrium flow when considering axisymmetric tokamak geometry.