A class of coherent vortex structures in rotating non-neutral plasma
- Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08543 (United States)
A class of nonaxisymmetric ([partial derivative]/[partial derivative][theta][ne]0) rotating equilibria is investigated theoretically for strongly magnetized, low-density ([omega][sub [ital pe]][sup 2]/[omega][sub [ital ce]][sup 2][much lt]1) pure electron plasma confined radially by a uniform axial magnetic field [ital B][sub 0]e[sub [ital z]] between concentric, perfectly conducting, cylindrical walls located at radii [ital r]=[ital r][sub [ital w]] and [ital r]=[ital r][sub [ital I]][le][ital r][sub [ital w]]. The analysis is based on a nonrelativistic, guiding-center model in the cold-fluid limit that treats the electrons as a massless fluid ([ital m][sub [ital e]][r arrow]0) with [bold E][times][bold B] flow velocity [bold V][sub [ital e]]=[minus]([ital c]/[ital B][sub 0])[del][phi][times][bold e][sub [ital z]]. Assuming two-dimensional spatial variations ([partial derivative]/[partial derivative][ital z]=0), the continuity-Poisson equations are analyzed for rotating coherent structures that are stationary (time independent) in a frame of reference rotating with angular velocity [omega][sub [ital r]]=const about the cylinder axis ([ital r]=0). The equilibrium Poisson equation [del][sup 2][psi]=[minus]4[pi][ital e][sup 2][ital n][sub [ital e]]([psi])+2[omega][sub [ital r]eB0]/[ital c] is solved exactly for the particular case where the electron density [ital n][sub [ital e]]([psi]) is a [ital linear] function of the streamfunction [psi]=[minus][ital e][phi]+[omega][sub [ital r]]([ital eB][sub 0]/2[ital c])[ital r][sup 2], and the plasma fills the region between the conducting walls, with [ital n][sub [ital e]]=0 at [ital r]=[ital r][sub [ital I]] and [ital r]=[ital r][sub [ital w]]. It is found that this class of rotating equilibria can exhibit large-amplitude, nonaxisymmetric, vortex structures characterized by strong azimuthal density bunching and circulating electron flow within the density bunches.
- OSTI ID:
- 6607909
- Journal Information:
- Physics of Fluids B; (United States), Journal Name: Physics of Fluids B; (United States) Vol. 5:5; ISSN 0899-8221; ISSN PFBPEI
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
700310 -- Plasma Confinement-- (1992-)
700340* -- Plasma Waves
Oscillations
& Instabilities-- (1992-)
CONFINEMENT
DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
ELECTRON DENSITY
EQUATIONS
EQUILIBRIUM PLASMA
GUIDING-CENTER APPROXIMATION
PARTIAL DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
PLASMA
PLASMA CONFINEMENT
POISSON EQUATION
ROTATING PLASMA
VORTICES