Instability of Penning-Type Discharges

Journal Article · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1963 · Physics of Fluids (New York)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.1706878· OSTI ID:4666687

Hoh, F. C.

It is shown that a weakly ionized plasma column in an axial magnetic field and an inward-directed radial electric field--- a Penning discharge at higher pressures---is unstable against a macroscopic m = 1 perturbation. The instability is analyzed by dimensional analysis. The applicability of this method is discussed. A steady-state model of some experimental Penning discharges is developed. On the basis of this model, the critical magnetic field for the onset of instability as predicted by the theory agrees well with the values observed. The instability discussed here is caused by the presence of a third fluid, the neutrals, in an electron--ion plasma. The same mechanism is also applicable to the initial phase of some rotating plasmas of the homopolar type.

• Research Organization: Royal Inst. of Tech., Stockholm; and General Atomics Div., General Dynamics Corp., San Diego, Calif.
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• NSA Number: NSA-17-033176
• OSTI ID: 4666687
• Journal Information: Physics of Fluids (New York), Journal Name: Physics of Fluids (New York) Journal Issue: 8 Vol. 6; ISSN 0031-9171; ISSN PFLDAS
• Publisher: American Institute of Physics
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: English

Related Subjects

ATOMS
CONFIGURATION
ELECTRIC CHARGES
ELECTRIC DISCHARGES
ELECTRIC FIELDS
ELECTRONS
ION SOURCES
IONIZATION
IONS
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MOLECULES
NUMERICALS
PENNING DISCHARGES
PHYSICS
PLASMA
PRESSURE
ROTATION
STABILITY