Effect of convective loss on the parametric decay of cold electron plasma waves

Journal Article · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1980 · Phys. Fluids; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.862867· OSTI ID:5753021

Wong, K L; Wilson, J R; Porkolab, M

The resonant decay of cold electron plasma waves was investigated in the Princeton L-3 device in an argon plasma with napprox.10/sup 10/--10/sup 11/ cm/sup -3/, Bapprox.700 G--2 kG, f/sub 0/approx.50--80 MHz (..omega../sub 0/> or =10 ..omega../sub l/h). The decay waves were identified to be ion-acoustic waves and cold electron plasma waves. Because of convective losses in the finite extent pump field, the threshold for parametric decay is considerably higher than the collisional threshold for the dominant E/sub 0perpendicular/ x B coupling. Coupling due to E/sub 0parallel/ can be important in low density, high magnetic field plasmas. At high densities (n>3 x 10/sup 10/ cm/sup -3/), E/sub 0perpendicular/ x B coupling becomes dominant. The E/sub 0perpendicular/ x B decay convective threshold was measured at various antenna lengths, magnetic field strengths, and plasma densities. The experimental results are in good agreement with theory. Indication of pump depletion and enchanced Landau heating of electrons were observed in the parametric decay process.

• Research Organization: Plasma Physics Laboratory, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544
• OSTI ID: 5753021
• Journal Information: Phys. Fluids; (United States), Journal Name: Phys. Fluids; (United States) Vol. 23:1; ISSN PFLDA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
700108* -- Fusion Energy-- Plasma Research-- Wave Phenomena
ARGON
COLD PLASMA
DISPERSION RELATIONS
ELECTRIC PROBES
ELECTRON TEMPERATURE
ELECTRONS
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
ELEMENTS
ENERGY LOSSES
ENERGY RANGE
EQUATIONS
EV RANGE
EV RANGE 01-10
FERMIONS
HEATING
INSTABILITY
INTERFEROMETRY
ION ACOUSTIC WAVES
ION TEMPERATURE
ION WAVES
KINETIC EQUATIONS
LEPTONS
LOSSES
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MILLI EV RANGE
NONLINEAR PROBLEMS
NONMETALS
PARAMETRIC INSTABILITIES
PLASMA
PLASMA DENSITY
PLASMA HEATING
PLASMA INSTABILITY
PLASMA MACROINSTABILITIES
PLASMA WAVES
PROBES
RARE GASES
WAVEGUIDES