Nonlinear Simulation of Drift Wave Turbulence

Abstract

In a two-dimensional version of the modified Hasegawa-Wakatani (HW) model, which describes electrostatic resistive drift wave turbulence, the resistive coupling between vorticity and density does not act on the zonal components ($k_{y}=0$). It is therefore necessary to modify the HW model to treat the zonal components properly. The modified equations are solved numerically, and visualization and analysis of the solutions show generation of stable zonal flows, through conversion of turbulent kinetic energy, and the consequent turbulence and transport suppression. It is demonstrated by comparison that the modification is essential for generation of zonal flows.

Accepted for publication in the Proceedings of the CSIRO/COSNet Workshop on Turbulence and Coherent Structures, Canberra, Australia, 10-13 January 2006 (World Scientific, in press, eds. J.P. Denier and J.S. Frederiksen): 12 pages, 6 figures