An exact turbulence law for the fluid description of fusion edge plasmas

Abstract Understanding turbulence via simplified fluid models is crucial for optimizing magnetic confinement in tokamak devices. In this work, we propose a novel high-order turbulence law that describes the turbulent cascade at the edges of fusion plasmas, namely valid within the scrape-off layer (SOL), in the framework of the Braginskii fluid model. Using the Yaglom–Monin approach, we derive an exact relation characterizing density fluctuations in these strongly magnetized systems. We obtain a third-order von Kármán–Howarth equation in increment form for the case of electrostatic Braginskii model, applied to a decaying turbulence regime. The new Yaglom–Braginskii law is validated through direct numerical simulations within a reduced (two-dimensional) model. Our analysis reveals that the plasma dynamics obey the cross-scale balance, exhibiting a well-defined inertial range of turbulence. This third-order law can provide an accurate measure of the cascade rate of density fluctuations in the SOL of laboratory plasmas.