Journal article
Inertial range turbulence in kinetic plasmas
Physics of plasmas, Vol.15(5), pp.055904-055904-10
03/11/2008
DOI: 10.1063/1.2889005
Abstract
The transfer of turbulent energy through an inertial range from the driving scale to dissipative scales in a kinetic plasma followed by the conversion of this energy into heat is a fundamental plasma physics process. A theoretical foundation for the study of this process is constructed, but the details of the kinetic cascade are not well understood. Several important properties are identified: (a) The conservation of a generalized energy by the cascade; (b) the need for collisions to increase entropy and realize irreversible plasma heating; and (c) the key role played by the entropy cascade-a dual cascade of energy to small scales in both physical and velocity space-to convert ultimately the turbulent energy into heat. A strategy for nonlinear numerical simulations of kinetic turbulence is outlined. Initial numerical results are consistent with the operation of the entropy cascade. Inertial range turbulence arises in a broad range of space and astrophysical plasmas and may play an important role in the thermalization of fusion energy in burning plasmas.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Inertial range turbulence in kinetic plasmas
- Creators
- Gregory Howes - University of California, Berkeley
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Physics of plasmas, Vol.15(5), pp.055904-055904-10
- DOI
- 10.1063/1.2889005
- ISSN
- 1070-664X
- eISSN
- 1089-7674
- Publisher
- American Institute of Physics
- Date published
- 03/11/2008
- Academic Unit
- Physics and Astronomy
- Record Identifier
- 9984199789402771
Metrics
6 Record Views