Synchronization of drift waves - art. no. 056401

Based on a thorough experimental study of the equilibrium plasma state and the description of coherent drift modes in the framework of a linear, nonlo cal model, the response of drift modes to different external driver signal is reported. Purely temporal perturbations as well as corotating and counte r-rotating electric fields of various mode numbers are applied to the syste m. Drift mode synchronization and periodic pulling, typical for driven nonl inear oscillator systems, are investigated in detail. The full spatio-tempo ral behavior of periodic pulling is observed with multiprobe arrays.