Instability of a Plasma Column in a Longitudinal Magnetic Field

Journal Article · Mon Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1962 · Physics of Fluids (New York)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.1706714· OSTI ID:4769155

Johnson, Roy R.; Jerde, David A.

The stability of a positive column in a longitudinal magnetic field is investigated by linearization of the macroscopic equations of motion and continuity for ions and electrons. Diffusion and magnetic field interaction terms are included in the ion equation of motion, and the equations are solved in a rigorous manner without any a prior assumptions regarding the form of the radial dependence of the perturbations of density and potential. In the one example calculated, for the helical instability, an important result is the existence of a finite perturbed potential at the wall radius. The boundary between stability and instability as a function of longitudinal electric and magnetic fields is shown graphically, along with the wavelength and frequency of the helical mode at the critical value of the magnetic field.

• Research Organization: Boeing Scientific Research Labs., Seattle
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• NSA Number: NSA-17-000974
• OSTI ID: 4769155
• Journal Information: Physics of Fluids (New York), Journal Name: Physics of Fluids (New York) Journal Issue: 8 Vol. 5; ISSN 0031-9171
• Publisher: American Institute of Physics
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: English

Related Subjects

CONFIGURATION
DENSITY
DIAGRAMS
DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
DIFFUSION
ELECTRIC FIELDS
ELECTRONS
EQUATIONS
FREQUENCY
HELICAL INSTABILITY
INTERACTIONS
IONS
KINK INSTABILITY
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MATHEMATICS
MOTION
NUMERICALS
PERTURBATION THEORY
PHYSICS
PINCH
PLASMA
STABILITY
SURFACES