Non-linear converging resonance cones

Technical Report · Sun Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1979

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6144269· OSTI ID:6144269

Wilson, J R; Wong, K L

The trajectory modification of a focused resonance cone due to ponderomotive force effects was investigated in the Princeton L-3 device. A single ring pulsed at f/sub 0/ approx. 50 MHZ (f/sub 1h/ much less than f/sub 0/ much less than f/sub pe/, f/sub ce/) launches a converging resonance cone in an argon plasma with n/sub e/ approx. 10/sup 9/ to 10/sup 10/, B approx. 400G to 1kG, T/sub e/ approx. 1 to 3 eV. At high driving power the strong localized electric fields modify the density through the ponderomotive force on the electrons, leading to a modification of the resonance cone trajectory. The cone is seen to bend in towards the axis and the focus moves toward the ring in agreement with the recent theory of Wang and Kuehl. The density perturbation at the focus propagates away and excites ion-acoustic waves. The wave dispersion relation was verified in He/sup +/, Ne/sup +/, Ar/sup +/, and Kr/sup +/ plasmas. Electron heating was observed which is consistent with collisional heating.

• Research Organization: Princeton Univ., NJ (USA). Plasma Physics Lab.
• DOE Contract Number: EY-76-C-02-3073
• OSTI ID: 6144269
• Report Number(s): PPPL-1549
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
700108* -- Fusion Energy-- Plasma Research-- Wave Phenomena
ARGON
CRYOGENIC FLUIDS
DISPERSION RELATIONS
ELECTRIC FIELDS
ELEMENTS
FLUIDS
HELIUM
ION ACOUSTIC WAVES
ION WAVES
KRYPTON
MAGNETIC MIRRORS
NEON
NONLINEAR PROBLEMS
NONMETALS
OPEN PLASMA DEVICES
PLASMA
PLASMA WAVES
RARE GASES
RESONANCE
THERMONUCLEAR DEVICES