Intermittent transport events in a cylindrical plasma device: experiment and simulation

The origin of intermittent fluctuations in the plasma edge of a linearly magnetized plasma column is investigated and closely compared with three-dimensional global numerical simulations. The intermittent character is caused by radially propagating turbulent structures. The radial propagation of the structures is due to the self-consistent potential perturbation associated with them. Their formation is closely linked to transport events caused by nonlinear drift-wave fluctuations. In the formation region a sheared azimuthal flow velocity is observed, which is driven by the Reynolds stress.