Isaac Newton Institute Programme on Gyrokinetics in Laboratory and Astrophysical Plasmas (Urgency Scheme)
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Oxford
Department Name: Oxford Physics
Abstract
Perhaps the greatest challenge in plasma science is to understand the multiscale interaction between small-scale fluctuations and large-scale plasma dynamics. This is crucial both in fundamental astrophysical and space physics research (e.g., turbulence in the solar wind, accretion onto black holes, and global temperature profiles and local structures in galaxy clusters) and in more practical terrestrial contexts (e.g., the performance of the international fusion reactor, ITER). In the last 25 years, a new mathematical approach, gyrokinetics, has been developed to treat low-frequency fluctuations in plasmas. In this approach, the fast orbital 'gyromotion' is averaged to produce kinetic equations for rings of charge. This is a 5D mathematically rigorous description that is far more tractable than the full kinetic theory. Despite some practical successes in code-building and simulations, the mathematical properties and physical implications of gyrokinetics are insufficiently well understood. In space and astrophysics, the wide applicability and power of the gyrokinetic theory has yet to be fully recognised and exploited. The programme will aim to step beyond the traditional focus on gyrokinetics for fusion plasmas: to confront a broader group of applied mathematicians and numericists with the practical challenges posed by gyrokinetics; to explore applications to space and astrophysical plasmas; and thus to help forge a cross-disciplinary and versatile community of physicists, astrophysicists and mathematicians. The Isaac Newton Institute Programme on Gyrokinetics in Laboratory and Astrophysical Plasmas is organized by Professor W Dorland (Maryland), Professor S Nazarenko (Warwick) and Dr A Schekochihin (Oxford, STFC Advanced Fellow), with Professor S Cowley (Director, Culham Centre for Fusion Energy) as advisor. Approximately 50 leading researchers will attend during the four-week programme, which includes the week-long workshop 'Kinetic-scale turbulence in laboratory and space plasmas: empirical constraints, fundamental concepts and unsolved problems'.
Organisations
People |
ORCID iD |
Alexander Schekochihin (Principal Investigator) |
Publications
Abel IG
(2013)
Multiscale gyrokinetics for rotating tokamak plasmas: fluctuations, transport and energy flows.
in Reports on progress in physics. Physical Society (Great Britain)
Barnes M
(2011)
Critically balanced ion temperature gradient turbulence in fusion plasmas.
in Physical review letters
Barnes M
(2011)
Turbulent transport in tokamak plasmas with rotational shear.
in Physical review letters
Chandran B
(2015)
INTERMITTENCY AND ALIGNMENT IN STRONG RMHD TURBULENCE
in The Astrophysical Journal
Chapman I
(2015)
Overview of MAST results
in Nuclear Fusion
Chen C
(2011)
Anisotropy of Alfvénic turbulence in the solar wind and numerical simulations Anisotropy of Alfvénic turbulence
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Chen C
(2012)
THREE-DIMENSIONAL STRUCTURE OF SOLAR WIND TURBULENCE
in The Astrophysical Journal
Chen C
(2010)
INTERPRETING POWER ANISOTROPY MEASUREMENTS IN PLASMA TURBULENCE
in The Astrophysical Journal
Chen CH
(2010)
Anisotropy of solar wind turbulence between ion and electron scales.
in Physical review letters
Field A
(2014)
Comparison of BES measurements of ion-scale turbulence with direct gyro-kinetic simulations of MAST L-mode plasmas
in Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion
Description | The key findings are reflected in the publication list. |
Exploitation Route | Some theories and methods that were developed carry over to bordering disciplines and areas of activity, most importantly magnetic fusion research. |
Sectors | Energy |