TH/P6-1 · Complex nonlinear Lagrangian for the Hasegawa-Mima equation

R.L. Dewar¹⁾, R.F. Abdullatif¹⁾, G.G. Sangeetha<sup>1)

1)</sup> The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia

Abstract: The Hasegawa-Mima equation is the simplest nonlinear single-field model equation that captures the essence of drift wave dynamics, such as turbulent cascade and zonal flow generation. Like the Schrödinger equation it is first order in time, but its coefficients are real so if the potential phi is initially real it remains real. However, by embedding phi in the space of complex functions a simple Lagrangian is found from which the Hasegawa-Mima equation may be derived from Hamilton's Principle.

Keywords: drift wave dynamics, zonal flow,

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