High-. beta. universal drift mode

Journal Article · Mon Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1982 · Phys. Fluids; (United States)

OSTI ID:5667148

Hastings, D E; McCune, J E

A linear kinetic analysis of the universal drift mode, valid for arbitrary values of ..beta..( = 8..pi..p/B/sup 2/), is presented. The three high-..beta.. effects on the universal, delB drifting particles, coupling to the drift Alfven wave and compressional magnetic fluctuations are examined in detail. For small values of ..beta.., the drift wave behavior is dominated by coupling to the Alfven wave, while for ..beta..approx.O(1) the wave behavior is determined by delB effects. For most plasma and wave parameters, the mode is stable for ..beta../sub i/> or =7%. The stabilization mechanism is the Alfven induced frequency downshift which reduces the parallel phase velocity of the wave until the (slightly) delB broadened ion Landau resonance damps the wave. For eta/sub e/( = partial ln T/sub c//partial ln N)>0, a peculiar case is found where the mode remains unstable for ..beta../sub i/< or =0(50%). This is caused by the delB frequency upshift coupled with inverse transit time damping.

• Research Organization: Massachusetts Inst. of Technology, Cambridge
• OSTI ID: 5667148
• Journal Information: Phys. Fluids; (United States), Journal Name: Phys. Fluids; (United States) Vol. 25:3; ISSN PFLDA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
700107* -- Fusion Energy-- Plasma Research-- Instabilities
ALFVEN WAVES
CONFINEMENT
COUPLING
DRIFT INSTABILITY
EQUATIONS
FLUCTUATIONS
HIGH-BETA PLASMA
HYDROMAGNETIC WAVES
INSTABILITY
KINETIC EQUATIONS
PLASMA
PLASMA CONFINEMENT
PLASMA INSTABILITY
PLASMA MICROINSTABILITIES
TURBULENCE
VARIATIONS