Multifaceted asymmetric radiation from the edge of tokamak plasmas (MARFE): Pattern formation under nonlocal constraints

A simplified two-dimensional nonlinear fluid model is developed to elucidate the basic mechanism of the formation of multifaceted asymmetric radiation from the edge of tokamak plasmas (MARFE). In the framework of a mixed Eulerian-Lagrangian description, the problem is reduced to a reaction-diffusion-type equation with nonlocality, which obeys the constraints of length constancy and mass conservation along the magnetic field. With sufficient radiative cooling, this model predicts formation of MARFE-like plasma condensations from a variety of initial conditions.