Warm plasma effects on drift cyclotron loss cone mode

Journal Article · Fri Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1979 · Phys. Fluids; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.862715· OSTI ID:6174135

Ng, P H; Gladd, N T; Liu, C S

Although plasma density gradients in mirror machines are larger than the theoretical threshold for the drift cyclotron loss cone instability, turbulence is experimentally observed only at low harmonics of the ion cyclotron frequency. The evolution of the drift cyclotron loss cone instability as the loss cone velocity distribution is progressively filled with a warm Maxwellian component is studied. The addition of the warm plasma results in both a lowering of the growth rate and a distortion and narrowing of the frequency spectrum. Under conditions typical of an almost filled loss cone, the numerical result shows that the growth rate is largest for the lower ion cyclotron harmonics and is quite consistent with experimental observations.

• Research Organization: Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742
• OSTI ID: 6174135
• Journal Information: Phys. Fluids; (United States), Journal Name: Phys. Fluids; (United States) Vol. 22:6; ISSN PFLDA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
700105 -- Fusion Energy-- Plasma Research-- Plasma Kinetics-Theoretical-- (-1987)
700107* -- Fusion Energy-- Plasma Research-- Instabilities
ANALYTICAL SOLUTION
BESSEL FUNCTIONS
BOLTZMANN STATISTICS
CYCLOTRON INSTABILITY
DISPERSION RELATIONS
DRIFT INSTABILITY
FUNCTIONS
HOT PLASMA
INSTABILITY
INSTABILITY GROWTH RATES
LOSS CONE
LOSS CONE INSTABILITY
MAGNETIC MIRRORS
NUMERICAL SOLUTION
OPEN PLASMA DEVICES
PLASMA
PLASMA INSTABILITY
PLASMA MICROINSTABILITIES
TEMPERATURE GRADIENTS
THERMONUCLEAR DEVICES