Design and use of an Elsässer probe for analysis of Alfvén wave fields according to wave direction

Journal Article · Sat Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2011 · Review of Scientific Instruments

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3649950· OSTI ID:1211747

Drake, D. J. ^[1]; Kletzing, C. A. ^[1]; Skiff, F. ^[1]; Howes, G. G. ^[1]; Vincena, S. ^[2]

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1. Univ. of Iowa, Iowa City, IA (United States)
2. Univ. of California, Los Angeles, CA (United States)

We have designed an electric and magnetic field probe which simultaneously measure both quantities in the directions perpendicular to the background magnetic field for application to Alfvén wave experiments in the Large Plasma Device at UCLA. This new probe allows for the projection of measuredwave fields onto generalized Elsässer variables. Experiments were conducted in a singly ionized He plasma at 1850 G in which propagation of Alfvén waves was observed using this new probe. We demonstrate that a clear separation of transmitted and reflected signals and determination of Poynting flux and Elsässer variables can be achieved.

• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Science (SC), Fusion Energy Sciences (FES)
• DOE Contract Number: FG02-06ER54890; ATM 03-17310; PHY-10033446
• OSTI ID: 1211747
• Journal Information: Review of Scientific Instruments, Vol. 82, Issue 10; ISSN 0034-6748: RSINAK
• Publisher: American Institute of Physics (AIP)
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English