Parametric instabilities during electron cyclotron heating of tandem mirrors

Journal Article · Thu Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1984 · Phys. Fluids; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.864672· OSTI ID:5089295

Nicholson, D R

Electron cyclotron resonance heating is one of the most commonly used methods of heating electrons in the plugs and in the thermal barriers of tandem mirrors. The intense coherent electromagnetic waves used for such heating are susceptible to parametric decay into other modes. Significant growth rates are found for the decay of either ordinary or extraordinary waves into two magnetized electron plasma waves. This and related effects may result in electron heating mechanisms rather different than those assumed in linear ray-tracing calculations. These results may help explain the unusual effects observed during heating of the Phaedrus tandem mirror device. In the general case, these instabilities may be strongly inhibited by density gradients.

• Research Organization: Department of Physics and Astronomy, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-82ER53136
• OSTI ID: 5089295
• Journal Information: Phys. Fluids; (United States), Journal Name: Phys. Fluids; (United States) Vol. 27:3; ISSN PFLDA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
700101 -- Fusion Energy-- Plasma Research-- Confinement
Heating
& Production
700107* -- Fusion Energy-- Plasma Research-- Instabilities
COHERENT RADIATION
CONVERSION
ECR HEATING
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
HEATING
HIGH-FREQUENCY HEATING
INSTABILITY
INSTABILITY GROWTH RATES
MAGNETIC MIRRORS
OPEN PLASMA DEVICES
PARAMETRIC INSTABILITIES
PLASMA
PLASMA HEATING
PLASMA INSTABILITY
PLASMA MACROINSTABILITIES
PLASMA WAVES
RADIATIONS
TANDEM MIRRORS
THERMONUCLEAR DEVICES
TMX DEVICES