Simulation of turbulent plasma heating by moderately strong oscillating two- stream instabilities

Journal Article · Mon Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1975 · Phys. Fluids, v. 18, no. 9, pp. 1173-1177

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.861279· OSTI ID:4171025

Katz, J I; De Groot, J S; Faehl, R J

Numerical simulations are used to investigate plasma heating by the oscillating, two-stream instability at moderate amplitude. Substantially all the absorbed electromagnetic energy goes into production of a suprathermal electron population. A simple functional form describes the shape of the suprathermal distribution function, which is proportional to v$sup -2$ over a wide velocity range. This holds for a wide range of driving field amplitude. The multiplicative constant increases linearly with time within a simulation. The plasma electric field spectrum has a characteristic power law shape, which is interpreted as the result of the waves coming into quasi-thermal balance with electrons near their phase velocity. The results for the electron distribution function are in qualitative agreement with experiments by Dreicer, Ellis, and Ingraham, but they disagree with those of Mizuno and De Groot and of Porkolab.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Livermore Laboratory, University of California, Livermore, California 94550
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• NSA Number: NSA-33-000187
• OSTI ID: 4171025
• Journal Information: Phys. Fluids, v. 18, no. 9, pp. 1173-1177, Journal Name: Phys. Fluids, v. 18, no. 9, pp. 1173-1177; ISSN PFLDA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

*PLASMA SIMULATION-- TURBULENT HEATING
*TURBULENT HEATING-- TWO- STREAM INSTABILITY
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OSCILLATIONS
TURBULENCE