Magnetic reconnection in toroidal eta(i) mode turbulence

Based on three-dimensional simulations of the Braginskii equations we show that for typical plasma-edge parameters the saturation of electromagnetic t oroidal eta(i) mode turbulence is controlled by the self-generation and sub sequent annihilation of radial magnetic field perturbations. This should be contrasted with the electrostatic limit, where the growth of the linear et a(i) mode is terminated by the onset of sheared flow modes driven by the ra dial plasma streams. The impact of the saturation amplitude on the transpor t level is substantial and is not in accord with simple mixing length argum ents, suggesting that electromagnetic effects should generally be included in simulations of eta(i) mode turbulence.