Renormalized non-modal theory of the kinetic drift instability of plasma shear flows

The linear and renormalized nonlinear kinetic theory of drift instability of plasma shear flow across the magnetic field, which has the Kelvin's method of shearing modes or the so-called non-modal approach as its foundation, is developed. The developed theory proves that the time-dependent effect of the finite ion Larmor radius is the key effect, which is responsible for the suppression of drift turbulence in an inhomogeneous electric field. This effect leads to the non-modal decrease of the frequency and growth rate of the unstable drift perturbations with time. We find that turbulent scattering of the ion gyrophase is the dominant effect which determines the extremely rapid suppression of drift turbulence in shear flow. (C) 2011 American Institute of Physics. [doi: 10.1063/1.3591346]