Phase-space Lagrangian derivation of electrostatic gyrokinetics in general geometry

Abstract

Gyrokinetic theory is based on an asymptotic expansion in the small parameter ϵ, defined as the ratio of the gyroradius and the characteristic length of variation of the magnetic field. In this paper, this ordering is strictly implemented to compute the electrostatic gyrokinetic phase-space Lagrangian in general magnetic geometry to order ϵ2. In particular, a new expression for the complete second-order gyrokinetic Hamiltonian is provided, showing that in a rigorous treatment of gyrokinetic theory magnetic geometry and turbulence cannot be dealt with independently. The new phase-space gyrokinetic Lagrangian gives a Vlasov equation accurate to order ϵ2 and a Poisson equation accurate to order ϵ. The final expressions are explicit and can be implemented into any simulation without further computations.