Neoclassical transport

The Neoclassical Transport Model is one of the pillars of the physics of magnetically confined plasmas. It provides a model for the transport of particles, momentum, and heat in complex magnetic geometries. The difference between the Neoclassical and the Classical models lies in the incorporation of geometrical effects, which give rise to complex particle orbits and drifts that were ignored in the latter.

Brief summary of the theory

The theory starts from the (Markovian) Fokker-Planck Equation for the particle distribution function $f_{\alpha }(x,v,t)$:

${\frac {\partial f_{\alpha }}{\partial t}}+v\cdot \nabla f_{\alpha }+F{\frac {\partial f_{\alpha }}{\partial v}}=C_{\alpha }(f)$

where $\alpha$ indicates the particle species, $v$ is the velocity, $F$ is a force (the Lorentz force acting on the particle) and $C_{\alpha }$ the Fokker-Planck collision operator. The derivation of this collision operator is highly non-trivial and requires making specific assumptions; in particular it must be assumed that a single collision has a small random effect on the particle velocity, and that the collisions are sufficiently frequent for the resulting particle trajectory to be described as a random walk. The collision operator must also satisfy some obvious conservation laws (conservation of particles, momentum, and energy).

Once the collision operator is decided, the moments of the Fokker-Planck equation can be computed. First, some definitions are needed:

$nu=\int {vfd^{3}v}$

(particle flux)

$P=\int {mv\cdot vfd^{3}v}$

(stress tensor)

$Q=\int {{\frac {mv^{2}}{2}}vfd^{3}v}$

(energy flux)

$P'=\int {m(v-u)\cdot (v-u)fd^{3}v}$

(pressure tensor)

$q=\int {{\frac {m(v-u)^{2}}{2}}(v-u)fd^{3}v}$

(heat flux)

The main goal of Neoclassical transport theory is to provide a closed set of equations for the time evolution of these moments, for each particle species.

(Further detail needed)

Achievements

Neoclassical models have been used with success to predict transport under certain specific conditions. (Citation needed) In experimental studies, Neoclassical transport estimates are often used as a "baseline" transport level - even though experimental values often exceed Neoclassical estimates by an order of magnitude or more. In any case, this "baseline" level facilitates the comparison between devices. Neoclassical theory is also used in the process of machine design and optimisation. (Citation needed)

Limitations

Neoclassical theory is based on a set of assumptions that limit its range of applicability and explain why it is not capable of predicting transport in all magnetic confinement devices and under all circumstances. These are:

• Maxwellianity. This assumption implies that a certain minimum level of collisionality is needed in order to ensure that Maxwellianisation is effective. The strong drives and resulting gradients that characterise fusion-grade plasmas often lead to a violation of this assumption.
• A fixed geometry. Neoclassical transport is calculated in a static magnetic geometry. In actual experiments (especially Tokamaks), the magnetic field evolves along with the plasma itself, leading to a modification of net transport. While a slow evolution (with respect to typical transport time scales) should not be problematic, rapid changes (such as magnetic reconnections) are outside of the scope of the theory.
• The remoteness of system boundaries. Particle orbits in complex geometries can be rather wide, in some circumstances, so that the presence of system boundaries is "felt" by the plasma. Presumably, and since Neoclassical Theory assumes that the system is essentially infinite, this explains why Neoclassical Theory tends to fail near the edge of the plasma. Internal Transport Barriers may also produce non-Neoclassical effects.
• The linearity of the model. Neoclassical theory is a linear theory in which profiles are computed from sources, boundary conditions, and transport coefficients (that depend linearly on the profiles). No non-linear feedback of the profiles on the transport coefficients is contemplated. However, there are many experimental studies that show that the profiles feed back non-linearly on transport (via turbulence), leading to some degree of self-organisation.
• Locality. Neoclassical theory is a theory of diffusion, and therefore it assumes that particle motion between collisions is small with respect to any other relevant spatial scales. This assumption then allows writing down differential equations, expressing the fluxes in terms of local gradients. It cannot be discarded that this basic assumption is violated under specific conditions, which may include the low-collisionality limit, and particles transported in streamers. Typically, this would then give rise to super-diffusion.
• Markovianity. A second assumption underlying diffusive models (including Neoclassics) is Markovianity, implying that the motion of any particle is only determined by its current velocity and position. However, there are situations, such as stochastic magnetic field regions, persistent turbulent eddies, or transport barriers, where this assumption may be violated (due to trapping effects, so that the preceding history of the particle trajectory becomes important). Typically, this would then give rise to sub-diffusion.