Nonlinear saturation of the drift cyclotron loss-cone instability

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

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.863069· OSTI ID:5313696

Myer, R C; Simon, A

The nonlinear behavior of the drift cyclotron loss-cone instability close to a stability boundary is considered. The time-asymptotic small-amplitude saturation of a single mode is determined by a variation of the Bogoliubov method. A collisionless plasma model is used with no mirror losses or particle sources. Flute-like local perturbations are considered. The stability boundary in density, density-gradient space is determined for several different ion loss-cone distributions. The modified equilibrium ion distribution function, the electric field, and the amplitude of the fluctuating electrostatic potential are then obtained as a function of the fractional increase in density gradient above the critical value. The nonlinear frequency shift remains indeterminate. In all cases, stable saturation occurs and is due to a slight filling-in of the loss cone. Comparison with numerical simulation results show good agreement when the high thermal level of neighboring modes is artificially suppressed.

• Research Organization: Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Sciences, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14627
• OSTI ID: 5313696
• Journal Information: Phys. Fluids; (United States), Journal Name: Phys. Fluids; (United States) Vol. 23:5; ISSN PFLDA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
700107* -- Fusion Energy-- Plasma Research-- Instabilities
BOGOLYUBOV METHOD
COLLISIONLESS PLASMA
CYCLOTRON INSTABILITY
DISTRIBUTION FUNCTIONS
DRIFT INSTABILITY
INSTABILITY
LOSS CONE INSTABILITY
NONLINEAR PROBLEMS
PLASMA
PLASMA DENSITY
PLASMA INSTABILITY
PLASMA MICROINSTABILITIES