Whole-plasma simulations of turbulent transport and upgradient plasma pinch are presented in a dipole magnetic geometry relevant to the Levitated Dipole Experiment (LDX). The self-consistent evolution of an inward particle pinch and the establishment of centrally peaked plasma profiles in a dipole field are explored from whole-plasma simulations using a flux-tube averaged fluid model. The nonlinear evolution of global drift-interchange modes leads to the development of large-scale turbulent convection. Global convective cells are shown to play an important role in radial turbulent transport that causes centrally peaked profiles in a dipole magnetic field. The simulations show that the system self-consistently evolves towards a nonlinear saturated state in which the plasma pressure and density profiles are marginally stable to both drift-interchange and entropy modes.

• Received 17 September 2019
• Revised 27 January 2020
• Accepted 29 January 2020

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.101.021201