Bifurcations and modulational interaction in negative compressibility turbulence

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Abstract
The results of detailed numerical studies of phenomena in negative compressibility turbulence with sheared perpendicular (i.e., poloidal) flow are presented. The turbulence model is based on the parallel ion flow gradient instability, a representative paradigm for ion drift waves. Studies of coupled turbulence and mean flow evolution indicate the existence of two distinct nonlinear states. In the first state, saturation occurs via nonlinear transfer to damped high-k modes and sheared flow is heavily damped. In the second state, the turbulence level is controlled by the self-consistently generated sheared flow. Transition between these states is determined by the competition between instability growth and damping of rotation. The dynamics of the observed transition is well described and consistent with a simple set of coupled envelope equations. Modulational interaction between small scale turbulence and large scale m≠0 shear flows is observed, as well.