Parametric instabilities in inhomogeneous plasma

Thesis/Dissertation · Fri Jun 06 04:00:00 EDT 1975

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/4166962· OSTI ID:4166962

Nicholson, Dwight Roy ^[1]

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1. Univ. of California, Berkeley, CA (United States)

We consider the nonlinear coupling of three waves in a plasma. One of the waves is assumed large and constant; its amplitude is the parameter of the parametric instability. The spatial-temporal evolution of the other two waves la treated theoretically, in one dimension, by analytic methods and by direct numerical Integration of the basic equations. Various monotonic forms of inhomogeneity are considered; agreement with previous work is found and new results are established. Nonmonotonic inhomogeneities are considered, In the form of turbulence and, as a model problem, In the form of a simple sinusoidal modulation. Relatively small amounts of nonmonotonic inhomogeneity, in the presence of a linear density gradient, are found to destabilize the well-known convective saturation, absolute growth occurring Instead.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: US Energy Research and Development Administration (ERDA)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• NSA Number: NSA-32-022144
• OSTI ID: 4166962
• Report Number(s): LBL--3267
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

*PLASMA INSTABILITY-- PARAMETRIC INSTABILITIES
70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
COUPLING
INHOMOGENEOUS PLASMA
N70700* --Physics--Controlled Thermonuclear Research-- Stability
PLASMA WAVES
TURBULENCE