Large-scale structures and turbulence saturation in gyrofluid ETG simulations

Li, J.*; Kishimoto, Yasuaki*; Miyato, Naoaki; Matsumoto, Taro; Dong, J. Q.*

The dynamics of secondary fluctuations with poloidal long wavelength and low frequency in electron-temperature-gradient (ETG) turbulence saturation is considered in sheared slab geometry. A simplified modeling analysis shows that this kind of large-scale structure including streamers may saturate primary ETG instability through poloidal mode coupling. Spectral analyses in three-dimensional ETG simulations clearly exhibit the secondary excitation and the probable relevancy to ETG saturation. The result may implicate a lower fluctuation level in ETG turbulence.