Phase-space dynamics of Alfvén mode chirping

In tokamak discharges, toroidal Alfven eigenmodes often experience complex semi-periodic frequency modulation known as chirping. These events modify the local high energy particle distribution and are expected to occur in many future fusion devices, which include energetic beams or fusion products. This paper presents a study of simulations of mode chirping made in order to better understand its phase-space properties in a realistic tokamak configuration. We find a mechanism that permits rapid repeated chirping with strong amplitude variation in each chirp. Each chirp is associated with an amplitude crash to low magnitude and local manipulation of the density gradients through a shift of mode phase through π. The chirping produces high density clumps, which propagate down the fast ion density gradient and low density holes that propagate up the density gradient away from the resonance. This flow of particles across the resonance provides an energy source and local gradients for repeated chirping.