Two-dimensional simulation of a plasma in a periodic picket fence

Thesis/Dissertation · Mon Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1979

OSTI ID:5362230

Marcus, A J

A two-dimensional particle-in-cell (PIC) simulation of a periodic picket fence is described and used to study plasma behavior and confinement. A Lagrangian formulation which includes the invariance of the z-component of the generalized momentum is written as a time symmetric difference scheme in the electrostatic approximation. The results include the following features. The plasma settles into a steady state after a transient period. Positive charge peaks are formed in front of the fence conductors. The potential develops a monotonically decreasing channel of the order of 0.5 T/sub e//e in the cusp. The half-width of the leak in the cusp through which the ions escape is significantly smaller than the ion gyroradius.

• Research Organization: Iowa Univ., Iowa City (USA)
• OSTI ID: 5362230
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
700105* -- Fusion Energy-- Plasma Research-- Plasma Kinetics-Theoretical-- (-1987)
CONFINEMENT
CUSPED GEOMETRIES
ELECTRIC POTENTIAL
FUNCTIONS
LAGRANGIAN FUNCTION
MAGNETIC FIELD CONFIGURATIONS
OPEN CONFIGURATIONS
PLASMA CONFINEMENT
PLASMA SIMULATION
TWO-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS