Self-Organization, Structures, and Anomalous Transport in Turbulent Partially Magnetized Plasmas with Crossed Electric and Magnetic Fields

Abstract

Self-organization and anomalous transport in gradient-drift driven turbulence in partially magnetized plasmas with crossed electric and magnetic fields is demonstrated in two-dimensional fluid simulations. The development of large scale structures and flows is shown to occur as a result of the inverse energy cascade from short wavelength instabilities. The turbulence shows complex interaction of small scale modes with large scale zonal flow modes, vortices, and streamers resulting in strongly intermittent anomalous transport that significantly exceeds the classical collisional values. The turbulence driven secondary instabilities and large scale structures are shown to dominate the anomalous electron current. Such anomalous transport and structures are consistent with a number of experimental observations in laboratory plasmas.