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Cyclotron resonance phenomena in a non-neutral plasma

Journal Article · · Phys. Fluids; (United States)
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.866485· OSTI ID:6057691

A kinetic theory of electrostatic cyclotron waves in a single component plasma slab of density n/sub 0/(x) immersed in a uniform magnetic field B/sub 0/z-italic-circumflex is presented. The space charge electric field E/sub 0/(x)x-italic-circumflex in such a plasma modifies the single particle gyrofrequency from ..cap omega.. = qB/sub 0//mc to ..cap omega../sub 1/(x) = (..cap omega../sup 2/-..omega../sup 2//sub p/(x))/sup 1//sup ///sup 2/ in the limit r/sub c//L <<1 (where r/sub c/ is the orbit size and L/sup -1/ = d ln E/sub 0//dx), causing the upper hybrid frequency to have the value (..cap omega../sup 2//sub 1/+..omega../sup 2//sub p/)/sup 1//sup ///sup 2/ = ..cap omega... Finite Larmor radius effects introduce a velocity dependence into the single particle gyrofrequency ..cap omega../sub 1/, leading to energy transfer to the particles located at the resonant layers where ..omega..-k/sub y/v/sub E/(x) = ..cap omega../sub 1/(x) (v/sub E/(x)y-italic-circumflex being the E x B drift velocity). This energy transfer mechanism is operative even when k/sub z/ = 0. Another nonzero Larmor radius effect is the appearance of thermal modes that are the analogs of Bernstein modes of neutral plasmas. When driven by an external capacitor plate antenna, these modes exhibit behavior similar to Tonks--Dattner resonances.

Research Organization:
Department of Physics, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90024
OSTI ID:
6057691
Journal Information:
Phys. Fluids; (United States), Journal Name: Phys. Fluids; (United States) Vol. 30:10; ISSN PFLDA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English