Linear analysis and crossphase dynamics in the CTEM fluid model

Abstract

Collisionless trapped-electron mode (CTEM) turbulence is an important contributor to heat and particle transport in fusion devices. The ion-temperature gradient (ITG)/trapped-electron mode (TEM) fluid models are rarely treated analytically, due to the large number of transport channels involved, e.g., particle and ion/electron heat transport. The CTEM fluid model [Anderson et al., Plasma Phys. Controlled Fusion 48, 651 (2006)] provides a simplified model, in the regime where the density gradient drive (∇n) is negligible compared to the electron temperature gradient drive (∇Te). This provides a starting point to study mechanisms associated with linear waves, such as crossphase dynamics, and its possible role in the formation of E × B staircase. Here, an extended CTEM fluid model (with both ∇n and ∇Te drive) is derived from the more general ITG/TEM model, using a simplified ion density response, and its linear dynamics is first analyzed and compared with CTEM gyrokinetic simulations with bounce-averaged kinetic electrons, while nonlinear analysis is left for future work. The wave action density is derived for this CTEM model. Comparisons of linear ITG spectrum are also made with other analytical models.