Kinetic and fluid calculations for the periodically oscillating plasma sphere
- Theoretical Division, MS K717, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545 (United States)
Previous work [D. C. Barnes and R. A. Nebel, Phys. Plasmas 5, 2498 (1998)] has demonstrated the existence of a one-dimensional self-similar oscillating ion solution which remains in local thermodynamic equilibrium at all times during an oscillation in a harmonic oscillator potential. Here it is shown that all spherically symmetric distributions, in which x, y, and z are independent, are of this form. However, in a real device the density profile will be truncated due to the presence of a wall or conductor. Particle simulations of these truncated profiles are presented and compared with the idealized solutions in the proper limits. Results are also interpreted in terms of rigid rotor rotation in phase space as is appropriate for a harmonic oscillator. Next, it is demonstrated that the deviations from Maxwellian velocity distributions that are observed when the plasma contracts will be quickly rethermalized during the expansion phase. Energy throughput resulting from this rethermalization is discussed. (c) 2000 American Institute of Physics.
- OSTI ID:
- 20215454
- Journal Information:
- Physics of Plasmas, Vol. 7, Issue 3; Other Information: PBD: Mar 2000; ISSN 1070-664X
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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