Observation of shock-generated turbulence in a magnetized plasma by CO/sub 2/ laser scattering

Journal Article · Sun Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1980 · Phys. Fluids; (United States)

OSTI ID:5281472

Gold, S H; DeSilva, A W; Huba, J D

Small angle CO/sub 2/ laser scattering is used to sense density fluctuations produced by microinstabilities in a collisionless plasma driven by a magnetic implosion in a high voltage theta pinch. Turbulent density fluctuations are measured at a wavelength near the Debye length within and behind the current sheet of the imploding shock. Two main scattering features are found. The earlier feature, occurring at the leading edge of the current sheet, is only about 30 nsec wide and is narrowly radial. It appears to be driven by ions reflected from the shock front and is believed due to an ion beam driven electron cyclotron instability. The later feature, peaking about 70 nsec after the first, is broader in time and has a maximum rotated about 25/sup 0/ from the azimuthal (current sheet) direction, with a half-width of 40/sup 0/. It appears to be due to the ion acoustic instability, driven by relative drift of electrons and ions in the current sheet.

• Research Organization: Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742
• OSTI ID: 5281472
• Journal Information: Phys. Fluids; (United States), Journal Name: Phys. Fluids; (United States) Vol. 23:6; ISSN PFLDA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
700102 -- Fusion Energy-- Plasma Research-- Diagnostics
700107* -- Fusion Energy-- Plasma Research-- Instabilities
BEAMS
CARBON DIOXIDE LASERS
COLLISIONLESS PLASMA
CYCLOTRON INSTABILITY
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
FLUCTUATIONS
GAS LASERS
INSTABILITY
ION BEAMS
ION WAVE INSTABILITY
LASER RADIATION
LASERS
MAGNETIC FIELDS
PINCH EFFECT
PLASMA
PLASMA DENSITY
PLASMA DIAGNOSTICS
PLASMA INSTABILITY
PLASMA MICROINSTABILITIES
RADIATIONS
SCATTERING
SHOCK WAVES
THETA PINCH
TURBULENCE
VARIATIONS