Abstract
Plasma zonal-flow excitation and saturation in fluid electron-drift-wave turbulence are studied spectrally. The zonal flow is a spectral condensation onto the zero-frequency linear-wave structure. In the representation diagonalizing the wave coupling that dominates interactions at long wavelengths, nonlinear triad interactions involving zero-frequency waves are greatly enhanced. Zonal modes are excited on both unstable and purely stable eigenmode branches. Coupling to the latter introduces robust, finite amplitude-induced damping of zonal flows, providing saturation.
- Received 9 April 2002
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.89.205001
©2002 American Physical Society