https://doi.org/10.1140/epjd/e2002-00119-x
Nonlinear interactions between drift waves and zonal flows
1
Institut für Theoretische Physik IV,
Fakultät für Physik und Astronomie,
Ruhr-Universität Bochum, 44780 Bochum, Germany
2
Department of Plasma Physics, Umeå University,
90187 Umeå, Sweden
Corresponding author: a ps@tp4.ruhr-uni-bochum.de
Received:
5
April
2002
Published online:
28
June
2002
Phase coherent interactions between drift waves and zonal flows are considered. For this purpose, mode coupling equations are derived by using a two-fluid model and the guiding center drifts. The equations are then Fourier analyzed to deduce the nonlinear dispersion relations. The latter depict the excitation of zonal flows due to the ponderomotive forces of drift waves. The flute-like zonal flows with insignificant density fluctuations have faster growth rates than those which have a finite wavelength along the magnetic field direction. The relevance of our investigation to drift wave driven zonal flows in computer simulations and laboratory plasmas is discussed.
PACS: 52.35.Mw – Nonlinear phenomena: waves, wave propagation, and other interactions (including parametric effects, mode coupling, ponderomotive effects, etc.) / 52.35.Kt – Drift waves / 52.35.Ra – Plasma turbulence
© EDP Sciences, Società Italiana di Fisica, Springer-Verlag, 2002
