Tokamak edge turbulence: background theory and computation

Abstract

The basic scales of motion and computational requirements for low frequency fluid drift turbulence are summarized in tutorial fashion, with emphasis on the tokamak edge region. Parameters are given by experimental observations, but the computations are otherwise done from first principles. Edge turbulence is fundamentally electromagnetic and nonlinear, not treatable by standard linear or secondary instability analysis. Energetic character is determined by diagnosis of the terms in the energy theorem within the fully developed saturated phase. The spectra of the fluctuations and transport always extend to below the ion gyroradius scale. Direct coupling of pressure fluctuations and E-cross-B eddies through the parallel current is always active. Edge turbulence derives its character from steep gradients, with a parallel/perp scale ratio larger than 100, rather than from collisional effects. Collisionality is neither absent nor strongly dominant for electrons, but very weak for ions. Fluctuations in the axisymmetric component, including the Pfirsch–Schlüter currents, are dynamically integrated into the turbulence. Time scales are one to two orders of magnitude shorter than the ion collision time, hence significant delays occur in the response of heat fluxes and viscosity to temperature gradients and flows. Hence the need for a trans-collisional gyrofluid model to treat cases with comparable ion and electron temperature. Two orders of magnitude in spatial scales and three in time scales are typically involved.