Two-dimensional turbulence in magnetized plasmas

摘要

In an inhomogeneous magnetized plasma the transport of energy and particles perpendicular to the magnetic field is in general mainly caused by quasi two-dimensional turbulent fluid mixing. The physics of turbulence and structure formation is of ubiquitous importance to every magnetically confined laboratory plasma for experimental or industrial application. Specifically, high-temperature plasmas for fusion energy research are also dominated by the properties of this turbulent transport. Self-organization of turbulent vortices to mesoscopic structures like zonal flows is related to the formation of transport barriers that can significantly enhance the confinement of a fusion plasma. This subject, of great importance in research, is rarely touched on in introductory plasma physics or continuum dynamics courses. Here a brief tutorial on 2D plasma turbulence is presented as an introduction to the field, appropriate for inclusion in undergraduate and graduate courses.