Experimental Demonstration of Hydromagnetic Waves in an Ionized Gas

Journal Article · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1959 · Physics of Fluids (New York)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.1724390· OSTI ID:4268606

Sawyer, G. A.; Scott, P. L.; Stratton, T. F.

A regular hydromagnetic oscillation was excited in a linear discharge tube with metal walls. An externally applied axial magnetic field and discharge currents less than 10⁴ amperes were essential to the production of the oscillation. Complete spatial current diatributions derivod from measurements of the radial and time dependence of the three components of magnetic field showed a helical notch (screw thread) of reduced current density which rotated with uniform angular velocity. The pitch and apparent rotational friequency of the oscillation depended on the gas density, discharge current, and applied axial magnetic field; the rightor left-handedness and rotational sense depended on the relative orientation of the appliod axial magnetic field and the self field of the discharge current. The helical regularity could be descnibed as a superposition of hydromagnetic waves traveling in the axial and circumferential directions.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos Scientific Lab., N. Mex.
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• NSA Number: NSA-13-008802
• OSTI ID: 4268606
• Journal Information: Physics of Fluids (New York), Journal Name: Physics of Fluids (New York) Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 2; ISSN 0031-9171; ISSN PFLDAS
• Publisher: American Institute of Physics
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
CONFIGURATION
CURRENTS
DENSITY
DISTRIBUTION
ELECTRIC DISCHARGES
HYDROMAGNETIC WAVES
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMICS
MEASURED VALUES
METALS
OSCILLATIONS
PLASMA
ROTATION
TUBES