Effect of convective loss on the parametric decay of cold electron plasma waves

Technical Report · Thu Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1979

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6440211· OSTI ID:6440211

Wong, K L; Wilson, J R; Porkolab, M

The resonant decay of cold electron plasma waves was investigated in the Princeton L-3 device in an argon plasma with n approx. 10/sup 10/--10/sup 11/ cm/sup -3/, B approx. 700 G -2kG, f/sub 0/ approx. 50 to 80 MHz (omega/sub 0/ greater than or equal to 10 omega/sub LH/). The decay waves were identified to be ion-acoustic waves and cold electron plasma waves. Because of convective losses in the finite extent pump field, the threshold for parametric decay is considerably higher than the collisional threshold for the dominant anti E/sub 0 perpendicular/ x anti B coupling. Coupling due to E/sub 0''/ can be important in low density high magentic field plasmas. At high densities (n > 3 x 10/sup 10/cm/sup -3/), anti E/sub 0 perpendicular/ x anti B coupling becomes dominant. The anti E/sub 0 perpendicular/ x anti B decay convective threshold was measured at various antenna lengths; magentic field strengths and plasma densities.

• Research Organization: Princeton Univ., NJ (USA). Plasma Physics Lab.; Massachusetts Inst. of Tech., Cambridge (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: EY-76-C-02-3073
• OSTI ID: 6440211
• Report Number(s): PPPL-1499
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

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ARGON
ELECTRON PLASMA WAVES
ELEMENTS
ENERGY LOSSES
INSTABILITY
LOSSES
NONMETALS
PARAMETRIC INSTABILITIES
PLASMA
PLASMA DENSITY
PLASMA INSTABILITY
PLASMA MACROINSTABILITIES
PLASMA WAVES
RARE GASES
RESONANCE