Particle dynamics in chirped-frequency fluctations

Hamiltonian systems describing particle motion in a wave with time-dependent (chirped) frequency are studied. The wave is found to form a single-node separatrix (bucket) moving in the phase space at a rate proportional to that of the frequency change. Particles trapped inside the bucket undergo convection, while untrapped particles colliding with the bucket get a resonant kick, in phase space. In toroidal systems, these effects can result in a large radial convective flux roughly proportional to the size of the bucket and the frequency chirping. Possible applications of this novel mechanism to tokamak plasmas are discussed.