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Title: Propagation of a cloud of hot electrons through a plasma in the presence of Langmuir scattering by ambient density fluctuations

Abstract

Gas-dynamic theory is generalized to incorporate the effects of beam-driven Langmuir waves scattering off ambient density fluctuations, and the consequent effects on the propagation of a cloud of hot electrons in an inhomogeneous plasma. Assuming Langmuir scattering as the limit of nonlinear three-wave interactions with fluctuations that are weak, low-frequency, long-wavelength ion-sound waves, the net effect of scattering is equivalent to effective damping of the Langmuir waves. Under the assumption of self-similarity in the evolution of the beam and Langmuir wave distribution functions, gas-dynamic theory shows that the effects of Langmuir scattering on the beam distribution are equivalent to a perturbation in the injection profile of the beam. Analytical expressions are obtained for the height of the plateau of the beam distribution function, wave spectral number density, total wave and particle energy density, and the beam number density. The main results of gas-dynamic theory are then compared with simulation results from numerical solutions of quasilinear equations. The relaxation of the beam in velocity space is retarded in the presence of density fluctuations and the magnitude of the upper velocity boundary is less than that in the absence of fluctuations. There are four different regimes for the height of the plateau,more » corresponding to different stages of relaxation of the beam in velocity space. Moreover, Langmuir scattering results in transfer of electrons from moderate velocity to low velocity; this effect produces an enhancement in the beam number density at small distances near the injection site and a corresponding decrease at large distances. There are sharp decreases in the profiles of the beam and total wave energy densities, which are related to dissipation of energy at large phase velocities. Due to a slower velocity space diffusion of the beam distribution in the presence of scattering effects, the spatial width of the beam is reduced while its mean velocity of propagation increases slightly.« less

Authors:
; ; ; ; ;  [1]
  1. School of Physics, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Sydney (Australia)
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
20960114
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Physics of Plasmas
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 14; Journal Issue: 1; Other Information: DOI: 10.1063/1.2423253; (c) 2007 American Institute of Physics; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); Journal ID: ISSN 1070-664X
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY; BEAM-PLASMA SYSTEMS; DISTRIBUTION FUNCTIONS; ELECTRON BEAMS; ELECTRON TRANSFER; ELECTRONS; ENERGY DENSITY; FLUCTUATIONS; INHOMOGENEOUS PLASMA; ION ACOUSTIC WAVES; NONLINEAR PROBLEMS; NUMERICAL SOLUTION; PHASE VELOCITY; PLASMA DENSITY; PLASMA SIMULATION; SCATTERING; SOUND WAVES

Citation Formats

Foroutan, G R, Robinson, P A, Sobhanian, S, Moslehi-Fard, M, Li, B, Cairns, I H, Research Institute for Astronomy and Astrophysics of Maragha, P.O. Box 55134-441 Maragha, School of Physics, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Sydney, Research Institute for Astronomy and Astrophysics of Maragha, P.O. Box 55134-441 Maragha, Faculty of Physics, Tabriz University, Tabriz 51664, and School of Physics, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Sydney. Propagation of a cloud of hot electrons through a plasma in the presence of Langmuir scattering by ambient density fluctuations. United States: N. p., 2007. Web. doi:10.1063/1.2423253.
Foroutan, G R, Robinson, P A, Sobhanian, S, Moslehi-Fard, M, Li, B, Cairns, I H, Research Institute for Astronomy and Astrophysics of Maragha, P.O. Box 55134-441 Maragha, School of Physics, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Sydney, Research Institute for Astronomy and Astrophysics of Maragha, P.O. Box 55134-441 Maragha, Faculty of Physics, Tabriz University, Tabriz 51664, & School of Physics, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Sydney. Propagation of a cloud of hot electrons through a plasma in the presence of Langmuir scattering by ambient density fluctuations. United States. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.2423253
Foroutan, G R, Robinson, P A, Sobhanian, S, Moslehi-Fard, M, Li, B, Cairns, I H, Research Institute for Astronomy and Astrophysics of Maragha, P.O. Box 55134-441 Maragha, School of Physics, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Sydney, Research Institute for Astronomy and Astrophysics of Maragha, P.O. Box 55134-441 Maragha, Faculty of Physics, Tabriz University, Tabriz 51664, and School of Physics, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Sydney. 2007. "Propagation of a cloud of hot electrons through a plasma in the presence of Langmuir scattering by ambient density fluctuations". United States. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.2423253.
@article{osti_20960114,
title = {Propagation of a cloud of hot electrons through a plasma in the presence of Langmuir scattering by ambient density fluctuations},
author = {Foroutan, G R and Robinson, P A and Sobhanian, S and Moslehi-Fard, M and Li, B and Cairns, I H and Research Institute for Astronomy and Astrophysics of Maragha, P.O. Box 55134-441 Maragha and School of Physics, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Sydney and Research Institute for Astronomy and Astrophysics of Maragha, P.O. Box 55134-441 Maragha and Faculty of Physics, Tabriz University, Tabriz 51664 and School of Physics, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Sydney},
abstractNote = {Gas-dynamic theory is generalized to incorporate the effects of beam-driven Langmuir waves scattering off ambient density fluctuations, and the consequent effects on the propagation of a cloud of hot electrons in an inhomogeneous plasma. Assuming Langmuir scattering as the limit of nonlinear three-wave interactions with fluctuations that are weak, low-frequency, long-wavelength ion-sound waves, the net effect of scattering is equivalent to effective damping of the Langmuir waves. Under the assumption of self-similarity in the evolution of the beam and Langmuir wave distribution functions, gas-dynamic theory shows that the effects of Langmuir scattering on the beam distribution are equivalent to a perturbation in the injection profile of the beam. Analytical expressions are obtained for the height of the plateau of the beam distribution function, wave spectral number density, total wave and particle energy density, and the beam number density. The main results of gas-dynamic theory are then compared with simulation results from numerical solutions of quasilinear equations. The relaxation of the beam in velocity space is retarded in the presence of density fluctuations and the magnitude of the upper velocity boundary is less than that in the absence of fluctuations. There are four different regimes for the height of the plateau, corresponding to different stages of relaxation of the beam in velocity space. Moreover, Langmuir scattering results in transfer of electrons from moderate velocity to low velocity; this effect produces an enhancement in the beam number density at small distances near the injection site and a corresponding decrease at large distances. There are sharp decreases in the profiles of the beam and total wave energy densities, which are related to dissipation of energy at large phase velocities. Due to a slower velocity space diffusion of the beam distribution in the presence of scattering effects, the spatial width of the beam is reduced while its mean velocity of propagation increases slightly.},
doi = {10.1063/1.2423253},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/20960114}, journal = {Physics of Plasmas},
issn = {1070-664X},
number = 1,
volume = 14,
place = {United States},
year = {Mon Jan 15 00:00:00 EST 2007},
month = {Mon Jan 15 00:00:00 EST 2007}
}