Comparison of turbulence measurements and simulations of the low-temperature plasma in the torsatron TJ-K

Abstract

A toroidal low-temperature plasma is used for comparative turbulence studies. Measurements are carried out with Langmuir probe arrays in the entire plasma cross section. The data are closely compared with drift-Alfven turbulence simulations. Although the parameters in a low-temperature plasma are very different from those in fusion plasmas, the dimensionless parameters governing the drift-wave physics are comparable. Hence this study can also give insight into high-temperature plasma turbulence. In order to identify relevant characteristic signatures of different turbulence-driving mechanisms, simulations were carried out for a wide range of plasma parameters. The simulation results are compared with first measurements