Abstract
Stationary solutions of the nonlinear equations, which govern the dynamics of ion–temperature–gradient (ITG) electrostatic modes, are re-examined without and with magnetic field inhomogeneities. It is shown that for both cases the nonlinear equations admit vortex street solutions in those parameter regimes where spatially bounded double vortex solutions are forbidden. The ITG-driven vortex streets can be associated with coherent nonlinear structures that are observed in laboratory and computer simulation experiments. Furthermore, vortex streets might play a detrimental role in the study of anomalous ion thermal transport in magnetically confined plasmas.