arXiv subjects

Johan Anderson

Publications and source records attributed to Johan Anderson.

32 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2012

High Frequency Geodesic Acoustic Modes in Electron Temperature Gradient Mode Turbulence

In this work the first demonstration of a high frequency branch of the geodesic acoustic mode (GAM) driven by electron temperature gradient (ETG) modes is presented. The work is based on a fluid description of the ETG mode retaining non-adiabatic ions and the dispersion relation for high frequency GAMs driven nonlinearly by ETG modes is derived. A new saturation mechanism for ETG turbulence through the interaction with high frequency GAMs is found, resulting in a significantly enhanced ETG turbulence saturation level compared to the mixing length estimate.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2012

Non-local gyrokinetic model of linear ion-temperature-gradient modes

A theory of non-local linear ion-temperature-gradient (ITG) drift modes while retaining non-adiabatic electrons is presented, extending the previous work [S. Moradi, et al {\em Phys. Plasmas} {\bf 18}, 062106 (2011)]. A dispersion relation is derived to quantify the effects of the fractional velocity operator in the Fokker-Planck equation modified by temperature gradients and non-adiabatic electrons on the real frequency and growth rate. Solving the dispersion relation, it is shown here that as the plasma becomes more turbulent, it deviates from a Maxwellian distribution and becomes Lévy distributed. The resulting Lévy distribution of the plasma may thus significantly alter the transport. The relative effect of the fractional derivative is larger on the real frequency than on the growth rate of the ITG mode.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2011

Secondary instability of electromagnetic ion-temperature-gradient modes for zonal flow generation

An analytical model for zonal flow generation by toroidal ion-temperature-gradient (ITG) modes, including finite $β$ electromagnetic effects, is derived. The derivation is based on a fluid model for ions and electrons and takes into account both linear and nonlinear $β$ effects. The influence of finite plasma $β$ on the zonal flow growth rate ($γ_{ZF}$) scaling is investigated for typical tokamak plasma parameters. The results show the importance of the zonal flows close to marginal stability where $γ_{ZF}/γ_{ITG}>>1$ is obtained. In this region the parameter $γ_{ZF}/γ_{ITG}$ increases with $β$, indicating that the ITG turbulence and associated transport would decrease with $β$ at a faster rate than expected from a purely linear or quasi-linear analysis.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2011

On the Feynman-alpha formula for fast neutrons

In this contribution, a stochastic theory for a branching process in a neutron population with two energy levels is investigated. In particular, a variance to mean or Feynman-alpha formula is derived in this generalized scenario using the Kolmogorov forward or master equation theory for the probabilities in a system with a compound Poisson source.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2010

Signature of a universal statistical description for drift-wave plasma turbulence

This Letter provides a theoretical interpretation of numerically generated probability density functions (PDFs) of intermittent plasma transport events. Specifically, nonlinear gyrokinetic simulations of ion-temperature-gradient turbulence produce time series of heat flux which exhibit manifestly non-Gaussian PDFs with enhanced tails. It is demonstrated that, after the removal of autocorrelations, the numerical PDFs can be matched with predictions from a fluid theoretical setup, based on the instanton method. This result points to a universality in the modeling of intermittent stochastic process, offering predictive capability.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2010

Predicting PDF tails in systems with logarithmic non-linearity

The probability density function (PDF) of flux $R$ is computed in systems with logarithmic non-linearity using a model non-linear dynamical equation. The PDF tails of the first moment flux are analytically predicted to be power law. These PDF tails are shown to be broader than a Gaussian distribution and are a manifestation of intermittency caused by short lived coherent structures (instantons).

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2009

Predicting PDF tails of flux in plasma sheath region

This letter provides the first prediction of the probability density function (PDF) of flux $R$ in plasma sheath sheath region in magnetic fusion devices which is characterized by dynamical equations with exponential non-linearities. By using a non-perturbative statistical theory (instantons), the PDF tails of first moment are shown to be modified Gumbel distribution which represents a frequency distribution of the extreme values of the ensemble. The non-Gaussian PDF tails that are enhanced over Gaussian predictions are the result of intermittency caused by short lived coherent structures (instantons).

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2009

Statistical theory of intermittency in a multi-scale model of MHD and micro-turbulence

Traditionally the effects of MHD instabilities and micro-instabilities on plasma confinement are investigated separately. However, these two instabilities often occur simultaneously, with the overlap of the dynamics on a broad range of spatial scales. It is thus vital to incorporate these instabilities consistently by a proper multi-scale modeling. Furthermore, there has been an overwhelming evidence that the overall transport of heat and particles is significantly influenced by intermittency (or bursty events) caused by coherent structures. A crucial question in plasma confinement is thus the prediction of the probability distribution functions (PDFs) of the transport due to these structures and of their formation. In this paper, we investigate intermittent transport in a multi-scale model by consistently incorporating both tearing instabilities and micro-instability due to pressure gradient.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2009

Non-perturbative statistical theory of intermittency in ITG drift wave turbulence with zonal flows

The probability distribution functions (PDFs) of momentum flux and zonal flow formation in ion-temperature-gradient (ITG) turbulence are investigated, including the effect of the shear flow on the PDFs. While ITG turbulence maintains high level of transport, this may be suppressed by shear flow. Zonal flows are also shown here to have an enhanced likelihood of generation further from marginal stability which will then regulate the ITG turbulence, which is more prominent with increased shear flow, leading to a self-regulating system.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2009

Statistical theory of structure formation: self-organization

We present the first prediction of the probability distribution function (PDF) for self-organization of shear flows modeled by a nonlinear diffusion equation with a stochastic forcing. A novel non-perturbative method based on a coherent structure is utilized for the prediction of the PDFs, revealing strong intermittency with exponential tails. Numerical simulations confirm these results. The predicted power spectra are also in a good agreement with simulation results. The results imply a significant probability of supercritical states due to stochastic perturbation in a variety of systems.

physics.flu-dyn↗

arXiv2009

The momentum flux probability distribution function for ion-temperature-gradient turbulence

There has been overwhelming evidence that coherent structures play a critical role in determining the overall transport in a variety of systems. We compute the probability distribution function (PDF) tails of momentum flux and heat flux in ion-temperature-gradient turbulence, by taking into account the interaction among modons, which are assumed to be coherent structures responsible for bursty and intermittent events, contributing to the PDF tails. The tail of PDF of momentum flux $R = < v_x v_y>$ is shown to be exponential with the form $\exp{\{-ξR^{3/2}\}}$, which is broader than a Gaussian, similarly to what was found in the previous local studies. An analogous expression with the same functional dependence is found for the PDF tails of heat flux. Furthermore, we present a detailed numerical study of the dependence of the PDF tail on the temperature and density scale lengths and other physical parameters through the coefficient $ξ$.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2009

Analytical theory of the probability distribution function of structure formation

The probability distribution function (PDF) tails of the zonal flow structure formation and the PDF tails of momentum flux by incorporating effect of a shear flow in ion-temperature-gradient (ITG) turbulence are computed in the present paper. The bipolar vortex soliton (modon) is assumed to be the coherent structure responsible for bursty and intermittent events driving the PDF tails. It is found that stronger zonal flows are generated in ITG turbulence than Hasegawa-Mima (HM) turbulence as well as further from marginal stability. This suggests that although ITG turbulence has a higher level of heat flux, it also more likely generates stronger zonal flows, leading to a self-regulating system. It is also shown that shear flows can significantly reduce the PDF tails of Reynolds stress and structure formation.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2009

Non-perturbative models of intermittency in edge turbulence

A theory of the probability distribution function (PDF) tails of the blob density in plasma edge turbulence is provided. A simplified model of the fast convective radial transport is used. The theoretically predicted PDF tails corroborate earlier measurements of edge transport, further confirming the strongly non-Gaussian feature of edge transport. It is found that increasing the cross sectional spatial scale length ($L_x$ and $L_y$) of the blob results in larger transport whereas increasing the toroidal scale length ($L_z$) decreases the PDF. The results imply that the PDF decreases for larger blob speed $v_b$.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2009

Quasilinear analysis of the zonal flow back-reaction on ion-temperature-gradient mode turbulence

There is strong evidence in favor for zonal flow suppression of the Ion-Temperature-Gradient (ITG) mode turbulence, specifically close to the linear stability threshold. The present letter attempts to analytically calculate the effects of zonal flow suppression of the ITG turbulence through deriving a modified dispersion relation including the back-reaction of the zonal flows on the ITG turbulence based on the quasilinear theory. The results are manifested in a reduction of the linear growth rate and an increase in the effective linear ITG threshold.

physics.plasm-ph↗