Turbulence in electrostatic ion-acoustic shocks

Journal Article · Sat Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1973 · Phys. Fluids, v. 16, no. 12, pp. 2304-2318

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.1694298· OSTI ID:4312452

Means, R W; Coroniti, F V; Wong, A Y; White, R B

Three types of collisionless electrostatic ion-acoustic shocks arc investigated using the Univerity of California, Los Angeles, double plasma device: (a) laminar shocks: (b) small amplitude turbulent shocks in which the turbulence is confined to be upstream of the shock potential jump; and (c) large amplitude turbulent shocks in which the wave turbulence occur throughout the shock transition. The wave turbulence is generated by ions which are reflected from the shock potential; linear theory spatial growth increments agree with experimental values. The experimental relationship between the shock Mach number and the shock potential is shown to be inconsistent with theoretical shock models which assume that the electrons are isothermal. Theoretical calculations which assume a trapped electron equation of a state and a turbulently flattened velocity distribution function for the reflected ions yields a Mach number vs potential relationship in agreement with experiment. (auth)

• Research Organization: Department of Physics, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90024
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• NSA Number: NSA-29-023262
• OSTI ID: 4312452
• Journal Information: Phys. Fluids, v. 16, no. 12, pp. 2304-2318, Journal Name: Phys. Fluids, v. 16, no. 12, pp. 2304-2318; ISSN PFLDA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

*SHOCK WAVES-- TURBULENCE
ION ACOUSTIC WAVES
ION BEAMS
N70900* --Physics--Controlled Thermonuclear Research--Wave Phenomena
PLASMA INSTABILITY
TRAPPED ELECTRONS