Ion Temperature Gradient instability: Difference between revisions

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The ion temperature gradient (ITG) instability is a microinstability in tokamaks relevant to turbulence and the associated anomalous transport.
The ion temperature gradient (ITG) instability<ref> P. N. Guzdar, Liu Chen, W. M. Tang and P. H. Rutherford, ''Ion‐temperature‐gradient instability in toroidal plasmas'' [[doi:10.1063/1.864182|Phys. Fluids '''26''' (1983) 673]]</ref> is a microinstability in [[tokamak]]s relevant to turbulence and the associated [[anomalous transport]].


The instability occurs due to the nature of Grad-B drift. The Grad-B drift velocity of a particle (caused by a gradient in the magnetic field) is proportional to the particle's kinetic energy. Hotter particles drift further than colder particles.
The instability occurs due to the nature of Grad-B drift. The Grad-B drift velocity of a particle (caused by a gradient in the magnetic field) is proportional to the particle's kinetic energy. Hotter particles drift further than colder particles.


Hence, if a temperature gradient is aligned with a magnetic field gradient (as occurs in a tokamak), particles in the hotter region will drift further. If there is a perturbation in the temperature gradient, then the difference in drift velocities will create charge separation. The charge separation creates a electric field. This electric field creates an ExB drift which increases the perturbation's amplitude. The positive-feedback nature of this loop leads to exponential growth of the instability.
Hence, if a temperature gradient is aligned with a magnetic field gradient (as occurs in a tokamak), particles in the hotter region will drift further. If there is a perturbation in the temperature gradient, then the difference in drift velocities will create charge separation. The charge separation creates an electric field. This electric field creates an <math>E\times B</math> drift which increases the perturbation's amplitude. The positive-feedback nature of this loop leads to exponential growth of the instability.
 
Note that if the temperature gradient is anti-parallel to the magnetic field gradient, the <math>E\times B</math> drift will suppress the perturbation rather than increase it.  This situation occurs on the inner, "good-curvature" side of the tokamak.


See the figure for a graphical explanation.
See the figure for a graphical explanation.


[[File:ITG.png | width=10 | image-width=10]]
[[File:ITG.png|600px|thumb|center|ITG mechanism]]
 
== See also ==
 
* [[Plasma instability]]


Note that if the temperature gradient is anti-parallel to the magnetic field gradient, the ExB drift will suppress the perturbation rather than increase it.  This situation occurs on the inner, "good-curvature" side of the tokamak.
== References ==
<references/>
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