TRAPPING INSTABILITIES IN A SLIGHTLY INHOMOGENEOUS PLASMA

Journal Article · Thu Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1962 · Physics of Fluids (U.S.)

OSTI ID:4768909

Krall, N A; Rosenbluth, M N

The stability of an infinite collisionless plasma with a small density gradient in the x direction (using the collisioniess Boltzmann equation and Maxwell's equations) confined by a static magnetic field in the z direction, is studied. Unstable modes are found at frequencies near multiples of the ion- cyclotron frequency OMEGA /sub i/. These modes are electrostatic oscillations transverse to the magnetic field, and have very short wavelengths lambda approximates nu /sub d// OMEGA /sib i/, where nu /sub d/ is t he (small) drift occasioned by the magnetic-field inhomogeneity. The phase velocity of the wave is comparable to nu /sub d/, and resonant interaction leads to the growth. Typical growth rates are large, alpha approximates (m/sub e//m/sub i/) OMEGA /sub i/, but the effect of the i nstability is minimized by the extremely short wavelength. (auth)

• Research Organization: General Atomic Div., General Dynamics Corp., San Diego, Calif.
• NSA Number: NSA-17-005486
• OSTI ID: 4768909
• Report Number(s): GA-2356; 0031-9171
• Journal Information: Physics of Fluids (U.S.) , Journal Name: Physics of Fluids (U.S.) Vol. Vol: 5; ISSN PFLDA
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: English

Related Subjects

ANISOTROPY
BOLTZMANN EQUATION
CONFIGURATION
CONFINEMENT
CYCLOTRONS
DENSITY
DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
ELECTRODYNAMICS
ELECTROSTATICS
FREQUENCY
INTERACTIONS
IONS
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MAXWELL EQUATIONS
OSCILLATIONS
PHYSICS
PLASMA
RESONANCE
STABILITY
VARIATIONS
VELOCITY