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A workflow is developed based on the ideal MHD model to investigate the linear physics of various Alfvén eigenmodes in general axisymmetric toroidal geometry by solving the coupled shear Alfvén wave (SAW) and ion sound wave (ISW) equations in ballooning space. The model equations are solved by the FALCON code in the singular layer, and the corresponding solutions are then taken as the boundary conditions for calculating parallel mode structures in the whole ballooning space. As an application of the code, the frequencies and mode structures of toroidal Alfvén eigenmode (TAE) are calculated in the reference equilibria of the Divertor Tokamak Test facility with positive and negative triangularities, respectively. As typical result for reactor relevant plasma conditions, which are strongly triangular in the outer core region where magnetic shear is of order unity, we show that the triangularity effect on TAE is generally small. Furthermore, by properly handling the boundary conditions, we demonstrate finite TAE damping due to coupling with the local acoustic continuum and find that the damping rate is small for typical plasma parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using the slab plasma as a paradigm model, we have derived analytically equations for the nonlinear generation of zero-frequency zonal flows by electron drift waves including, on the same footing, both the beat-driven and spontaneous excitations. It is found that the beat-driven zonal flow tends to reduce the frequency mismatch between the electron drift waves and, thereby, contributes to a significant O(1) enhancement of the modulational instability drive and lowering its threshold. Implications to tokamaks plasmas as well as drift-wave soliton formation are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]