A standard low-dimensional model of the dynamical regulation of plasma turbulence including zonal flows is considered in a statistical sense by taking into account the fluctuating nature of the source driving the system. The probability distribution functions of the turbulent kinetic energy and the zonal flows energy are derived. The dynamics become on-off intermittent close to the bifurcation thresholds. In its low confinement mode, without zonal flows, the system can also display random finite amplitude burst close to marginal stability, a result reminiscent of the self-organized-criticality paradigm applied to flux-driven plasma turbulence.

Topics
State functions, Thermodynamic states and processes, Control theory, Dynamical systems, Probability theory, Relaxation oscillations, Plasma confinement, Plasma flows, Plasma turbulence, Stochastic processes
© 2010 American Institute of Physics.
2010
American Institute of Physics
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