Self-organization in electron temperature gradient driven turbulence

Based on first principle gyrokinetic calculations, a zonal flow generation mechanism in the slab electron temperature gradient driven (ETG) turbulence with weak magnetic shear is identified as self-organization via the turbulent spectral cascade in the two dimensional rotating fluid turbulence. The inverse energy cascade and the scaling of a zonal flow wavenumber, which is consistent with the Rhines scale length, are confirmed. An impact of the scaling, which depends on the density gradient, on the turbulent structure and transport is demonstrated for the slab ETG turbulence. (c) 2006 American Institute of Physics.