Propagation of neutralized plasma beams

Journal Article · Fri Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1990 · Physics of Fluids B; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.859470· OSTI ID:6805525

Wessel, F J; Rostoker, N; Fisher, A; Rahman, H U; Song, J H ^[1]

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1. Department of Physics, University of California, Irvine, California 92717 (USA)

Beams of neutralized plasma will cross a transverse magnetic field, magnetized plasma, and neutral gas, by a combination of single particle and collective-plasma processes. At low density the beam will deflect; at higher density the beam will exhibit undeflected motion by the {bold E}{times}{bold B} drift or diamagnetic (high-beta) exclusion of the magnetic field. In the high-beta regime, where {beta}{gt}1 ({beta} is the ratio of plasma-beam energy density to magnetic field energy density), beam magnetization occurs on a time scale orders of magnitude faster than the classical Spitzer time scale. Recent studies of fast magnetization suggest that transport processes in large ion gyroradius beams, {ital y}/{rho}{sub {ital i}}{lt}1, are dominated by ion motion rather than electron motion as previously understood for small gyroradius beams, {ital y}/{rho}{sub {ital i}}{gt}1, where {ital y} and {rho}{sub {ital i}} are the beam transverse width and ion gyroradius, respectively. Although quantitative aspects of the small gyroradius propagation physics theory are still valid, most notably the {bold E}{times}{bold B} drift, much work remains to fully understand fast magnetic diffusion processes, beam-trapping mechanisms, and long-range propagation limits.

• OSTI ID: 6805525
• Journal Information: Physics of Fluids B; (USA), Journal Name: Physics of Fluids B; (USA) Vol. 2:6; ISSN 0899-8221; ISSN PFBPE
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640201* -- Atmospheric Physics-- Auroral
Ionospheric
& Magetospheric Phenomena
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
BEAM NEUTRALIZATION
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
EARTH MAGNETOSPHERE
HIGH-BETA PLASMA
INTERACTIONS
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MAGNETIZATION
PLASMA
PLASMA DRIFT
SOLAR ACTIVITY
SOLAR WIND