Microinstabilities: Drift Wave and ITG

This lecture delves into the study of microinstabilities, focusing on the drift wave instability and the Ion Temperature Gradient (ITG) instability in magnetic fusion devices. The discussion covers the derivation of dispersion relations, the impact of density gradients, and the resonant interaction between particles and waves. The instructor explains the conditions for instability, the role of adiabatic electron response, and the analytical solutions for the growth rates. Through numerical analysis and theoretical derivations, the lecture provides insights into the behavior of plasma instabilities and their implications in fusion devices.