ON THE STABILITY OF PLASMA IN STATIC EQUILIBRIUM

Technical Report · Fri Oct 31 04:00:00 EST 1958

OSTI ID:4322434

Kruskal, M D; Oberman, C R

Criteria useful in the discussion of stability of plasmas in static equilibrium are derived from the Boltzmann equation in the small m/e limit. Collisions are ignored at first, but later it is shown how their effects are taken into account. This approach yields a generalization ef the usual energy principles for investigating the stability ef hydromagnetic systems to situations wthere the effect of heat flow along magnetic lines is not negligible, and hence to situations where the strictly hydrodynamic approach is inapplicable. The general method of approach is characterized. The properties of the small m/e limit used in the problem, the constants of the motion, and the conditions for static equilibrium are delineated. The first and second variations of the energy are calculated and a statement ef the general stability criterion is given. Several theorems are stated which relate the stability criterion of the problem to those of ordinary hydromagnetic theory. The effect of collisions is considered. The remaining problem of incorporating the charge neutrality condition into the present stability theory is stated briefly. (M.R.H.)

• Research Organization: Princeton Univ., N.J. Project Matterhorn
• NSA Number: NSA-12-014864
• OSTI ID: 4322434
• Report Number(s): A/CONF.15/P/365
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: English

Related Subjects

BOLTZMANN EQUATION
DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
ELECTRIC CHARGES
ENERGY
EQUATIONS
HEAT FLOW
HEAT TRANSFER
HEAT TREATMENTS
INTERACTIONS
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMICS
MASS
MOTION
PHYSICS
PLASMA
STABILITY
VARIATIONS