Exceptional points in linear gyrokinetics

When performing linear gyrokinetic simulations, it is found that various types of microinstabilities, which are usually considered as strictly separated, can actually be transformed into each other via continuous variations of the plasma parameters. This behavior can be explained in terms of so-called exceptional points, which have their origin in the non-Hermiticity of the linear gyrokinetic operator and also occur in many other branches of physics. As a consequence, in large regions of parameter space, the designation of unstable modes should be done very carefully or even be avoided altogether. (c) 2008 American Institute of Physics.