Ion Temperature Gradient instability: Difference between revisions

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.

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.