Role of the relativistic mass variation in electron cyclotron resonance wave absorption for oblique propagation

Journal Article · Wed Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1982 · Phys. Fluids; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.863730· OSTI ID:6653405

Fidone, I; Granata, G; Meyer, R L

The role of the relativistic mass variation on wave absorption in the electron cyclotron range of frequencies is investigated. It is first shown that the validity of the nonrelastivistic linear dispersion relation for a Maxwellian plasma is restricted by the conditions N/sup 2//sub parallel/>>T/sub e//mc/sup 2/ and N/sup 2//sub parallel/>>Vertical Bar1-..omega../sup 2//sub c//..omega../sup 2/Vertical Bar. A numerical investigation of wave damping in a plasma slab located in an inhomogeneous tokamak-like magnetic field shows that for most angles of practical interest the latter condition is easily violated and, therefore, the nonrelativistic dispersion relation yields inaccurate results. The problem of the validity of the nonrelativistic quasilinear equation for oblique propagation is also discussed. Using a quasilinear model equation, it is shown that the inclusion of the relativistic mass variation in the diffusion coefficient results in a basic change of the wave--particle selective interaction compared to the nonrelativistic approximation for any value of T/sub e/ or N/sub parallel/.

• Research Organization: Association Euratom-Cea sur la fusion, Department de Recherches sur la Fusion Controlee, Centre d'Etudes Nucleaires, Boite Postale No. 6, 92260 Fontenay-aux-Roses, France and Laboratoire de Physique des Milieux Ionises, Universite de Nancy, Nancy, France
• OSTI ID: 6653405
• Journal Information: Phys. Fluids; (United States), Journal Name: Phys. Fluids; (United States) Vol. 25:12; 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
CYCLOTRON RESONANCE
DISPERSION RELATIONS
ELECTRON CYCLOTRON-RESONANCE
ENERGY LOSSES
ENERGY RANGE
ERRORS
FLUCTUATIONS
INHOMOGENEOUS FIELDS
LOSSES
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MASS
PLASMA
RELATIVISTIC RANGE
RESONANCE
RESONANCE ABSORPTION
SLABS
VARIATIONS
WAVE PROPAGATION