Experiments on whistler mode electron-cyclotron resonance plasma startup and heating in an axisymmetric magnetic mirror

Journal Article · Tue Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1985 · Phys. Fluids; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.865353· OSTI ID:5366321

Booske, J H; Getty, W D; Gilgenbach, R M; Jong, R A

Whistler mode electron-cyclotron resonance heating (ECRH) has been performed simultaneously with whistler mode electron-cyclotron emission measurements on an axisymmetric magnetic mirror plasma. Results presented include a study of the early plasma startup phase and two instability phases, one believed to be caused by a whistler instability and another by magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) flute instability. Enhanced microwave emission at frequencies below the midplane electron-cyclotron frequency has been correlated with enhanced electron endloss during the whistler instability. Cyclotron emission spectra during the startup phase match predictions for a ''sloshing electron'' type distribution based on numerical modeling. This distribution also agrees with anisotropic distributions resulting from electron-cyclotron heating as predicted by Fokker--Planck computer simulations. Experimentally measured heating rates show good agreement with simplified analytical models based on stochastic heating.

• Research Organization: College of Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109
• OSTI ID: 5366321
• Journal Information: Phys. Fluids; (United States), Journal Name: Phys. Fluids; (United States) Vol. 28:10; ISSN PFLDA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
700101* -- Fusion Energy-- Plasma Research-- Confinement
Heating
& Production
700108 -- Fusion Energy-- Plasma Research-- Wave Phenomena
ECR HEATING
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
HEATING
HIGH-FREQUENCY HEATING
MAGNETIC MIRRORS
MICROWAVE RADIATION
NOISE
OPEN PLASMA DEVICES
PLASMA
PLASMA HEATING
RADIATIONS
RADIO NOISE
RADIOWAVE RADIATION
START-UP
SYMMETRY
THERMONUCLEAR DEVICES
WHISTLERS