Unstable particle drift across a magnetic field caused by oblique electric field gradients
- Science Application International Corporation, McLean, Virginia 22102 (United States)
The presence of a positive electric field gradient {ital e}{ital dE}/{ital dx}{gt}0 oblique to a uniform magnetostatic field is shown to cause unstable particle motion across the magnetic lines. Both the drift velocity along {bold {nabla}}{ital E} and the {bold E{times}B} drift velocity exponentiate in time with growth rate proportional to {vert_bar}{ital dE}/{ital dx}{vert_bar}{sup 1/2}sin{theta}, where {pi}/2{minus}{theta} is the angle between {bold E} and {bold B}. Thus the cross-{ital B} transport due to {bold {nabla}}{ital E} is more severe than the {bold {nabla}}{ital B} and {partial_derivative}{ital E}/{partial_derivative}{ital t} effects, that cause constant drift velocity under uniform field variation. The result has implications to a variety of situations involving oblique electric gradients, such as magnetized plasma sheaths, large amplitude drift waves, and possibly tokamak edge transport. {copyright} {ital 1996 American Institute of Physics.}
- DOE Contract Number:
- FG05-93ER54201
- OSTI ID:
- 401131
- Journal Information:
- Physics of Plasmas, Journal Name: Physics of Plasmas Journal Issue: 12 Vol. 3; ISSN 1070-664X; ISSN PHPAEN
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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