Return-current-driven instabilities of propagating electron beams

Journal Article · Sun Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1982 · Phys. Fluids; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.863921· OSTI ID:5119391

Uhm, H S; Lampe, M

A stability analysis is performed for the first nine transverse modes (azimuthal mode number plus radial mode number < or =3) of a self-pinched relativistic electron beam propagating in a collisional plasma. Only frequencies ..omega.. in the range ..omega..tau/sub d/<<1 are considered, where tau/sub d/ is the dipole magnetic decay length. For such modes, the presence of plasma return current is the only destabilizing mechanism. Paraxial flow, space charge neutrality, and a flat radial profile of beam density are also assumed. Within these limitations, an exact analysis of the linearized Vlasov stability problem is carried out in closed form. For each mode, the instability threshold, growth rate, and conditions for oscillatory versus pure growth are determined. For beams with a moderate return current fraction, the hose, sausage, and axial hollowing modes appear to be particularly dangerous.

• Research Organization: Naval Surface Weapons Center, White Oak, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910
• OSTI ID: 5119391
• Journal Information: Phys. Fluids; (United States), Journal Name: Phys. Fluids; (United States) Vol. 25:8; ISSN PFLDA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
700107 -- Fusion Energy-- Plasma Research-- Instabilities
700208* -- Fusion Power Plant Technology-- Inertial Confinement Technology
BEAM INJECTION
BOLTZMANN-VLASOV EQUATION
COLLISIONAL PLASMA
DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
ELECTRON BEAM INJECTION
ENERGY RANGE
EQUATIONS
PARTIAL DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
PLASMA
RELATIVISTIC RANGE
SPACE CHARGE
STABILITY