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Observation of phase pattern accelerating zonal flow

We report the first experimental observation of zonal flow (ZF) formation through phase patterning. Here the ‘phase’ refers to the eikonal phase carried by streamer-like mode. It is observed that the phase-gradient profile tends to form ‘shock’ layer structures in regions where there are strong streamer-ZF interactions. The emergence of phase-gradient shock layers invalidate the constant-phase-gradient hypothesis, which is frequently employed in the modulational instability models of ZF generation, and is consistent with a recent theoretical work (Guo et al 2016 Phys. Rev. Lett. 117 125002), which predicts that the phase-curvature (gradient of the phase-gradient) can produce a new Reynolds force and accelerate the ZF. By decomposing the Reynolds’ force of the tilted streamers into a phase curvature driven piece and an amplitude inhomogeneity driven one, it is found that inside the shock layers the phase curvature plays a prominent role in accelerating the ZF. We also explore the formation mechanism of the phase pattern and its consistent dynamics with phase-curvature-driven ZF. These findings potentially open a new way to understand the various elusive self-organization phenomena in plasma turbulence.