Distinctive features of collisionless gradient drift instabilities in a high-{beta} plasma in a highly nonuniform magnetic field

Journal Article · Sun May 15 04:00:00 EDT 2011 · Plasma Physics Reports

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1134/S1063780X11040039· OSTI ID:22047527

Chirkov, A Yu; Khvesyuk, V I ^[1]

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1. Bauman Moscow State Technical University (Russian Federation)

A set of Vlasov-Maxwell equations for collisionless electromagnetic drift instabilities of high-{beta} plasma configurations with a nonuniform magnetic fields is solved. The effect of the transverse static magnetic field variation and magnetic field line curvature, as well as the plasma temperature and density gradients, is considered. It is shown that, in a nonuniform magnetic field, the behavior of the instabilities differs substantially from that in a uniform field. Electromagnetic modes propagating strictly transverse to the lines of the static magnetic field are analyzed in detail, and unstable solutions are obtained for both extraordinary and ordinary waves. Numerical results show that, in the latter case, instability occurs when the magnetic field decreases toward the periphery and the plasma temperature and density gradients are oppositely directed.

• OSTI ID: 22047527
• Journal Information: Plasma Physics Reports, Journal Name: Plasma Physics Reports Journal Issue: 5 Vol. 37; ISSN PPHREM; ISSN 1063-780X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
BOLTZMANN-VLASOV EQUATION
DRIFT INSTABILITY
ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS
ELECTRON TEMPERATURE
HIGH-BETA PLASMA
ION TEMPERATURE
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MATHEMATICAL SOLUTIONS
PLASMA DENSITY
PLASMA WAVES
WAVE PROPAGATION