Tendency of a rotating electron plasma to approach the Brillouin limit

Journal Article · Mon Jul 15 00:00:00 EDT 2013 · Physics of Plasmas

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4816670· OSTI ID:22227986

Gueroult, Renaud; Fisch, Nathaniel J. ^[1]; Fruchtman, Amnon ^[2]

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1. Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08543 (United States)
2. Faculty of Sciences, H.I.T.-Holon Institute of Technology, Holon 58102 (Israel)

A neutral plasma is considered to be immersed in an axial magnetic field together with a radial electric field. If the electrons are magnetized, but the ions are not magnetized, then the electrons will rotate but the ions will not rotate, leading to current generation. The currents, in turn, weaken the axial magnetic field, leading to an increase in the rotation frequency of the slow Brillouin mode. This produces a positive feedback effect, further weakening the magnetic field. The operating point thus tends to drift towards the Brillouin limit, possibly finding stability only in proximity to the limit itself. An example of this effect might be the cylindrical Hall thruster configuration.

• OSTI ID: 22227986
• Journal Information: Physics of Plasmas, Vol. 20, Issue 7; Other Information: (c) 2013 AIP Publishing LLC; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 1070-664X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
CYLINDRICAL CONFIGURATION
ELECTRIC FIELDS
ELECTRONS
FEEDBACK
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMICS
PLASMA
PLASMA DRIFT
THRUSTERS