Small-scale plasma instabilities in nonuniform crossed fields

Journal Article · Sat Nov 01 00:00:00 EST 1980 · Sov. J. Plasma Phys. (Engl. Transl.); (United States)

OSTI ID:6440583

Kirochkin, Y A; Pokroev, A G; Stepanov, K N

A theory is derived for the electrostatic electron cyclotron and ion-acoustic instabilities which occur in a very inhomogeneous plasma with ..beta..approx. 1 in crossed electric and magnetic fields (the thickness of the plasma slab is smaller than the ion gyroradius and larger than the electron gyroradius). The characteristic values of the wave growth rates are of order the lower hybrid frequency. It is shown that the local approximation cannot be used for the electron cyclotron instability. A nonlocal equation is derived for the field of these waves. A crucial role may be played in the excitation of electron cyclotron waves by the interaction between the wave and resonant particles which are drifting across the magnetic field at the electric and magnetic drift velocity. The variability of the electric drift velocity and of the electron cyclotron frequency must be taken into account.

• Research Organization: A. M. Gor'kii State University, Khar'kov
• OSTI ID: 6440583
• Journal Information: Sov. J. Plasma Phys. (Engl. Transl.); (United States), Vol. 6:6
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
INHOMOGENEOUS PLASMA
PLASMA INSTABILITY
CROSSED FIELDS
ELECTRIC FIELDS
ELECTRON PLASMA WAVES
ELECTROSTATICS
ION ACOUSTIC WAVES
MAGNETIC FIELDS
INSTABILITY
ION WAVES
PLASMA
PLASMA WAVES
700107* - Fusion Energy- Plasma Research- Instabilities
700108 - Fusion Energy- Plasma Research- Wave Phenomena