Formation Process of a Solitary Vortex in a Zonal Flow - Drift-Wave Dynamics

A solitary vortex organization process in drift-wave type fluctuations interacting with the zonal flow was identified experimentally in a linear magnetized plasma. An azimuthal probe array was used to evaluate temporal changes in the amplitude and phase in the density fluctuations. Excitation/damping of the solitary vortex is synchronized with zonal perturbation, and the waveform of drift-wave type fluctuation and its harmonics also changes synchronously. The solitary vortex is formed primarily through the phase modulation of the fundamental drift-wave type fluctuation and its harmonics.