Ion-acoustic waves in finite geometry

Journal Article · Fri Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1983 · Phys. Fluids; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.864246· OSTI ID:6399171

Jensen, R V; Bernstein, I B

The effects of finite geometry on the frequency spectrum and mode structure of ion-acoustic oscillations in an equilibrium (T/sub e/ = T/sub i/) plasma are investigated. Numerical and analytical results for one-dimensional models of collisionless plasmas with both absorbing and reflecting boundaries show that these modes are strongly damped. With absorbing boundaries the fluctuations are damped in an ion-transit time. For reflecting boundaries the frequency spectrum is identical to the heavily Landau-damped spectrum for an unbounded plasma. These theoretical calculations suggest that the weakly damped, low-frequency density fluctuations recently observed in incandescent cavities are not ion-acoustic waves.

• Research Organization: Mason Laboratory, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06520
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-77ET53053
• OSTI ID: 6399171
• Journal Information: Phys. Fluids; (United States), Journal Name: Phys. Fluids; (United States) Vol. 26:4; ISSN PFLDA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
700108* -- Fusion Energy-- Plasma Research-- Wave Phenomena
ABSORPTION
ANALYTICAL SOLUTION
BOUNDARY LAYERS
CAVITIES
COLLISIONLESS PLASMA
DAMPING
ENERGY ABSORPTION
EQUILIBRIUM PLASMA
FLUCTUATIONS
FREQUENCY RANGE
GEOMETRY
ION ACOUSTIC WAVES
ION WAVES
LAYERS
MATHEMATICS
NUMERICAL SOLUTION
ONE-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS
OSCILLATION MODES
PLASMA
PLASMA SIMULATION
PLASMA WAVES
REFLECTION
SIMULATION
VARIATIONS