Speaker: Dr. Benjamin Faber, Department of Engineering Physics, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Abstract: Minimizing energy and particle losses due to microturbulence remains a significant challenge facing magnetic confinement fusion energy. In this talk, I will examine the physics of turbulence saturation in three-dimensional stellarator plasmas, highlighting recent theoretical and computational achievements. In particular, I will focus on turbulent saturation induced by nonlinear three-wave energy transfer between stable modes at the same scales as the driving instability, and show the three-wave coupling mechanism is dependent on local geometry. These insights into geometric dependence of saturation provides valuable input for future stellarator optimization schemes focused on reducing turbulent transport.