Parametric instabilities near the ion-cyclotron frequency in an inhomogeneous plasma
A kinetic theory for the parametric instabilities of ion-cyclotron, drift-cyclotron, and drift-cyclotron-loss-cone modes of finite wavenumber in an inhomogeneous plasma is developed. The Vlasov equation is solved in guiding center coordinates for two types of equilibria, viz., Maxwellian and loss-cone velocity distributions. For flute modes (k/sub parallel/ = 0) or modes with long parallel wavelengths (k/sub parallel/v/sub i/parallel<..omega..) the coupling coefficients are greatly simplified. Ion-cyclotron waves are seen to decay efficiently into low-frequency drift waves in tokamaks. In a mirror machine a high-amplitude drift-cyclotron-loss-cone mode of negative energy decays into low-frequency positive-energy modes, giving rise to explosive instability.
- Research Organization:
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742
- OSTI ID:
- 6821869
- Journal Information:
- Phys. Fluids; (United States), Vol. 27:5
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
INHOMOGENEOUS PLASMA
PARAMETRIC INSTABILITIES
PLASMA WAVES
COUPLING
TOKAMAK DEVICES
EQUILIBRIUM
ANALYTICAL SOLUTION
BOLTZMANN STATISTICS
BOLTZMANN-VLASOV EQUATION
CYCLOTRON FREQUENCY
DRIFT INSTABILITY
EXPLOSIVE INSTABILITY
FLUTE INSTABILITY
GUIDING-CENTER APPROXIMATION
ION WAVE INSTABILITY
KINETIC EQUATIONS
LOSS CONE INSTABILITY
CLOSED PLASMA DEVICES
DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
EQUATIONS
INSTABILITY
PARTIAL DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
PLASMA
PLASMA INSTABILITY
PLASMA MACROINSTABILITIES
PLASMA MICROINSTABILITIES
THERMONUCLEAR DEVICES
700107* - Fusion Energy- Plasma Research- Instabilities
700108 - Fusion Energy- Plasma Research- Wave Phenomena
700101 - Fusion Energy- Plasma Research- Confinement
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