Fast magnetization of a high-to-low-beta plasma beam

Journal Article · Mon Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1990 · Physics of Fluids B; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.859512· OSTI ID:6233923

Song, J J; Wessel, F J; Yur, G; Rahman, H U; Rostoker, N; White, R S ^[1]

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1. Department of Physics, University of California, Irvine, CA (USA)

The magnetization of a high-beta (plasma energy density/magnetic field energy density{equivalent to}{beta}{ge}1) hydrogen-plasma beam injected into a vacuum transverse magnetic field is studied experimentally. Nominal parameters were {ital T}{sub {ital i}}{approx}1 eV, {ital T}{sub {ital e}}{approx}5 eV, {ital n}{le}3{times}10{sup 13} cm{sup {minus}3}, {ital v}{sub {ital i}}{le}7{times}10{sup 6} cm/sec, {ital t}{sub pulse}{lt}70 {mu}sec, {ital B}{sub {ital z}}{le}300 G. Plasma characteristics were measured for a wide beam, {ital a}/{rho}{sub {ital i}}{le}35, and a downstream distance, {ital x}{le}300{rho}{sub {ital i}}, where {ital a} is the beam radius, {ital x} is the downstream distance, and {rho}{sub {ital i}} is the ion gyroradius. A brief initial state of diamagnetic propagation is observed, followed by {bold E}{times}{bold B} (magnetized) propagation; {bold E}{times}{bold B} propagation is accompanied by beam compression transverse to {bold B} with as much as a factor of 4 increase in density and a slight drift of the beam in the ion Lorentz force direction. For {ital B}{sub {ital z}}=200--300 G the observed magnetization time is much faster than calculated from classical Spitzer conductivity and is more of the order of the magnetization time based on Hall conductivity.

• OSTI ID: 6233923
• Journal Information: Physics of Fluids B; (USA), Journal Name: Physics of Fluids B; (USA) Vol. 2:10; ISSN 0899-8221; ISSN PFBPE
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640430* -- Fluid Physics-- Magnetohydrodynamics
75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
BEAMS
ELEMENTS
EXPANSION
HALL EFFECT
HIGH-BETA PLASMA
HYDROGEN
ION BEAMS
LOW-BETA PLASMA
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MAGNETIZATION
NONMETALS
PLASMA
PLASMA EXPANSION
PLASMA GUNS
VACUUM SYSTEMS