Fluctuations and transport due to ion-temperature-gradient–driven instabilities

The nonlinear evolution and spectral properties of ion temperature gradient-driven modes in a three-dimensional sheared magnetic field with multiple rational surfaces have been investigated using gyrokinetic plasma simulation techniques. A detailed study of the electrostatic potential fluctuation spectra shows that it is dominated by the modes with moderate poloidal wavelength (0.1{≤}ky{{{ρ}}}ₛ${≤}0.5). The measured thermal flux in the steady state, which is lower than the quasilinear value at saturation, is found to decrease weakly with an increase in the magnetic shear strength.