Saturation of the cyclotron decay instability

Journal Article · Thu Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1977 · Phys. Fluids; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.861840· OSTI ID:5346912

Sperling, J L

The cyclotron decay instability results from the nonlinear interaction of a magnetosonic wave with two electrostatic ion-cyclotron waves in a multispecies plasma. A saturation mechanism for the instability is the nonlinear ion-cyclotron damping process involving the interaction of electrostatic ion-cyclotron and hydromagnetic-acoustic turbulence with a nonlinear plasma response near an ion-cyclotron frequency. Strong nonlinear ion heating can be a consequence of the saturation particularly if electron Landau damping is reduced by quasi-linear diffusion or trapping.

• Research Organization: Plasma Physics Laboratory, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08540
• OSTI ID: 5346912
• Journal Information: Phys. Fluids; (United States), Journal Name: Phys. Fluids; (United States) Vol. 20:12; ISSN PFLDA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
700107* -- Fusion Energy-- Plasma Research-- Instabilities
700108 -- Fusion Energy-- Plasma Research-- Wave Phenomena
CYCLOTRON INSTABILITY
DAMPING
DECAY INSTABILITY
DISTRIBUTION FUNCTIONS
HYDROMAGNETIC WAVES
INSTABILITY
ION PLASMA WAVES
ION WAVES
LANDAU DAMPING
MAGNETOACOUSTIC WAVES
NONLINEAR PROBLEMS
PLASMA INSTABILITY
PLASMA MICROINSTABILITIES
PLASMA WAVES
SATURATION