Transition from flute modes to drift waves in a magnetized plasma column

Journal Article · Wed Jun 15 04:00:00 EDT 2005 · Physics of Plasmas

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.1921167· OSTI ID:20764286

Brochard, F; Gravier, E; Bonhomme, G ^[1]

---

1. LPMIA, UMR 7040 du CNRS, Universite Henri Poincare, Boite Postale 239, F-54506 Vandoeuvre-les-Nancy Cedex (France)

Recent experiments performed on the low {beta} plasma device Mirabelle [T. Pierre, G. Leclert, and F. Braun, Rev. Sci. Instrum. 58, 6 (1987)] using a limiter have shown that transitions between various gradient driven instabilities occurred on increasing the magnetic field strength. New thorough measurements allow to identify unambiguously three instability regimes. At low magnetic field the strong ExB velocity shear drives a Kelvin-Helmholtz instability, whereas at high magnetic field drift waves are only observed. A centrifugal (Rayleigh-Taylor) instability is also observed in between when the ExB velocity is shearless and strong enough. A close connection is made between the ratio {rho}{sub s}/L{sub perpendicular} of the drift parameter to the radial density gradient length and each instability regime.

• OSTI ID: 20764286
• Journal Information: Physics of Plasmas, Journal Name: Physics of Plasmas Journal Issue: 6 Vol. 12; ISSN PHPAEN; ISSN 1070-664X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
DRIFT INSTABILITY
FLUTE INSTABILITY
HELMHOLTZ INSTABILITY
LOW-BETA PLASMA
MAGNETIC FIELDS
PLASMA
PLASMA DENSITY
PLASMA DRIFT
PLASMA WAVES
RAYLEIGH-TAYLOR INSTABILITY