Energetic bounds on gyrokinetic instabilities. Part 1. Fundamentals
P. Helander, G. G. Plunk
Abstract
Upper bounds on the growth of free energy in gyrokinetics are derived. These bounds apply to all local gyrokinetic instabilities in the geometry of a flux tube, i.e. a slender volume of plasma aligned with the magnetic field, regardless of the geometry of field, the number of particle species or collisions. The results apply both to linear instabilities and to the nonlinear growth of finite-amplitude fluctuations.
Topics & Concepts
PhysicsGyrokineticsPlasmaFlux tubeNonlinear systemMagnetic fieldAmplitudeInstabilityFlux (metallurgy)Classical mechanicsMechanicsField (mathematics)Magnetic fluxQuantum electrodynamicsNuclear physicsQuantum mechanicsTokamakPure mathematicsMaterials scienceMetallurgyMathematicsMagnetic confinement fusion researchIonosphere and magnetosphere dynamicsSolar and Space Plasma Dynamics