Saturation mechanisms of the lower-hybrid drift instability

Thesis/Dissertation · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1981

OSTI ID:6204563

Chen, Y J

The linear properties and saturation mechanisms of the lower hybrid drift instability have been investigated using one-dimensional particle-hybrid simulations, perturbation theory and two-dimensional particle simulations. From the one-dimensional particle-hybrid simulations, it was found that ion trapping and current relaxation are competing processes for stabilization for low relative electron-ion drift velocity (v/sub d/ much less than v/sub ti/). If the drift velocity is kept constant in time, ion trapping causes the end of instability growth; if this drift is allowed to decrease consistent with momentum balance, then saturation is due to current relaxation. The nonlinear dielectric response function and the nonlinear temporal evolution of a single unstable mode are derived self-consistently by using perturbation theory to solve the Vlasov and Possion equations with the local approximation.

• OSTI ID: 6204563
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
700107* -- Fusion Energy-- Plasma Research-- Instabilities
BOLTZMANN-VLASOV EQUATION
DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
DRIFT INSTABILITY
EQUATIONS
INSTABILITY
ONE-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS
PARTIAL DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
PERTURBATION THEORY
PLASMA INSTABILITY
PLASMA MICROINSTABILITIES
POISSON EQUATION
STABILIZATION
TWO-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS