2007/11/27 by Gregory G. Howes, G. G. Howes · 1 citation
Physics and Astronomy · #Cascade #Dissipative system #Dust and Plasma Wave Phenomena #Energy cascade #Gyrokinetics #Kinetic energy #Laser-Plasma Interactions and Diagnostics #Magnetic confinement fusion research #Plasma #Thermalisation #Turbulence #Turbulence kinetic energy #astro-ph
paper · pdf · doi:10.1063/1.2889005
11 pages, 2 figures, submitted to Physics of Plasmas, DPP Meeting Special Issue
arxiv created 2007/11/27 · openalex publication_date 2008/03/11 · arxiv updated 2009/12/01 · openalex created_date 2016/06/24 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/05
The transfer of turbulent energy through an inertial range from the driving scale to dissipative scales in a kinetic plasma followed by the conversion of this energy into heat is a fundamental plasma physics process. A theoretical foundation for the study of this process is constructed, but the details of the kinetic cascade are not well understood. Several important properties are identified: (a) The conservation of a generalized energy by the cascade; (b) the need for collisions to increase entropy and realize irreversible plasma heating; and (c) the key role played by the entropy cascade—a dual cascade of energy to small scales in both physical and velocity space—to convert ultimately the turbulent energy into heat. A strategy for nonlinear numerical simulations of kinetic turbulence is outlined. Initial numerical results are consistent with the operation of the entropy cascade. Inertial range turbulence arises in a broad range of space and astrophysical plasmas and may play an important role in the thermalization of fusion energy in burning plasmas.