Numerical simulation study of plasma-beta scaling of turbulent transport

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 23561003
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Nuclear fusion studies
• Research Institution: Kyoto University (2015); National Institute for Fusion Science (2011-2014)
• Principal Investigator: Ishizawa Akihiro 京都大学, エネルギー科学研究科, 准教授 (30390636)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): WATANABE Tomohiko 名古屋大学, 大学院理学研究科, 教授 (30260053) ; NAKAJIMA Noriyoshi 核融合科学研究所, ヘリカル研究部, 教授 (30172315)
• Project Period (FY): 2011-04-28 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: プラズマ / 乱流 / 核融合 / 運動論 / シミュレーション / 電磁的 / プラズマベータ / 輸送

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Numerical simulation of turbulence in finite beta plasma is important for predicting fusion reactor. We have developed a new gyrokinetic simulation code that enables us to evaluate turbulent transport in finite beta plasmas. We revealed plasma beta dependence of turbulent transport of heat and particles by means of the new simulation code. Turbulent fluctuation becomes electromagnetic in finite beta plasma, and magnetic perturbation suppresses drift-wave turbulence that is normally responsible for turbulent transport in zero beta. In finite beta, magnetohydrodynamic turbulence influenced by kinetic effects is responsible for turbulent transport. The saturation mechanism of the electromagnetic turbulence is significantly different from the turbulence at zero beta because of very weak zonal flow which is a structure formation regulating the drift-wave turbulence. A new saturation mechanism of electromagnetic turbulence is a structure formation along the magnetic field line.

Free Research Field

核融合学