Transition to chaos in systems with multiple shearless transport barriers.

• Grant number: 24/02591-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate
• Effective date (Start): September 01, 2024
• Effective date (End): August 31, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Physics - Physics of Fluids, Plasma Physics and Electrical Discharge
• Principal Investigator: Iberê Luiz Caldas
• Grantee: Gabriel Cardoso Grime
• Supervisor: Philip James Morrison Jr
• Host Institution: Instituto de Física (IF). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Research place: University of Texas at Austin (UT), United States
• Associated to the scholarship: 22/05667-2 - Transport Barriers in Magnetically Confined Plasmas, BP.DR

Abstract

Transport barriers in magnetically confined plasmas have been related to the vicinity of the extrema at equilibrium profiles. In addition, nontwist Hamiltonian models have been used associating nonmonotonic profiles to the so-called shearless transport barriers. Recently, nontwist systems with multiple shearless transport barriers appeared in experimental devices and associated Hamiltonian models. Although some advances have been achieved in identifying the properties of such systems, a complete understanding of the onset of global transport is needed. In this internship project, we will investigate the universal properties presented by shearless transport barriers, especially at the breakup threshold. To achieve this goal, we intend to use advanced Hamiltonian system techniques, which focus on numerical accuracy and the capability of providing universal results, which can be extended to other similar systems.