Exploring Role of Reynolds and Maxwell Stress towards shear layer formation in ETG turbulence dominated Large Laboratory Plasma

Shear flows are well known for transport reduction by decorrelating the turbulent eddies and hence study of mechanisms of spontaneous generation of shear flow is important. Electron Temperature Gradient (ETG) turbulence is successfully excited in finite beta, (β∼0.01-0.4 ) plasma of Large Volume Plasma Device (LVPD) having frequency and wavelength ordering, f_ci<f(2-15kHz)≪f_ce, k_⊥ ρ_e≤1 and k_⊥ ρ_i>1, where f_ci and f_ce are cyclotron frequencies and ρ_e, ρ_i are larmor radii of ion and electrons respectively. An E×B shear layer is observed at mid radius in LVPD. The steady state flow profile results from balance of divergence of net momentum flux with flow dissipation where the net momentum flux is made of sum of Reynolds and Maxwell stresses. It is often conjectured that Maxwell stress opposes Reynolds stress leading to weakening of zonal flows in electromagnetic turbulence. We aim to study the competing roles of Reynolds and Maxwell stresses towards shear layer formation in LVPD. Details of the novel findings will be discussed in the meeting.