Nonlinear waves on charged particle beams

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

OSTI ID:6301706

Hughes, T P

Two problems are addressed in this thesis, both having to do with nonlinear waves on charged particle beams. In the first problem, a two-dimensional particle simulation of the resistive filamentation instability on a charge and current neutralized particle beam is performed. The model equations used depend essentially on only one dimensionless parameter, making a numerical survey of the complete range of behavior feasible. The nonlinear development of the instability is analyzed with reference to the focusing requirements of heavy ion beams acting as drivers for pellet fusion. It is found that magnetically pinched current filaments form for all values of the dimensionless parameter. The combined area of the filaments decreases significantly as the filaments coalesce. This leads to a speculation that adequate focusing of the beam may be possible in spite of the development of this instability. In the second problem, nonlinear space-charge waves in a strongly magnetized cylindrical plasma are investigated. Soliton and periodic wave solutions are obtained. For the case of an intense unneutralized electron beam, a significant decrease in the phase velocity of the slow space charge wave is found at large amplitudes. The importance of this result for some collective ion acceleration schemes is discussed.

• Research Organization: Cornell Univ., Ithaca, NY (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6301706
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640301* -- Atomic
Molecular & Chemical Physics-- Beams & their Reactions
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ACCELERATORS
AMPLITUDES
BEAMS
COLLECTIVE ACCELERATORS
ELECTRON BEAMS
FOCUSING
INSTABILITY
ION BEAMS
LEPTON BEAMS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
PARTICLE BEAMS
PLASMA
TWO-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS
WAVE PROPAGATION