Ion transport barriers triggered by plasma polarization in gyrokinetic simulations

A. Strugarek (1, 2) , Y. Sarazin (1) , D. Zarzoso (1) , J. Abiteboul (1) , A. S. Brun (2) , T. Cartier-Michaud (1) , Guilhem Dif-Pradalier (1) , X. Garbet (1) , Ph Ghendrih (1) , V. Grandgirard (1) , G. Latu (1) , C. Passeron (1) , O. Thomine (1)

1 IRFM - Institut de Recherche sur la Fusion par confinement Magnétique
2 AIM (UMR7158 / UMR_E_9005 / UM_112) - Astrophysique Interprétation Modélisation

The creation of ion transport barriers by externally induced sheared E × B flows is investigated with the global, full-f and flux-driven gyrokinetic code GYSELA. A gyrokinetic source of vorticity is designed and proves to be efficient in polarizing the plasma. Induced sheared electric fields develop in the turbulent core and are accompanied by the creation of a transport barrier. The barrier and the sheared flow relax quasi-periodically because of zonal flow activity and a destabilizing temperature anisotropy induced by the vorticity source. A new cyclic mechanism leading to the relaxation of transport barriers in tokamaks is discovered.

Domains: Sciences of the Universe [physics]

A. Strugarek, Y. Sarazin, D. Zarzoso, J. Abiteboul, A. S. Brun, et al.. Ion transport barriers triggered by plasma polarization in gyrokinetic simulations. Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion, 2013, 55, ⟨10.1088/0741-3335/55/7/074013⟩. ⟨insu-03621009⟩