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Parametric instabilities near the ion-cyclotron frequency in an inhomogeneous plasma

Journal Article · · Phys. Fluids; (United States)
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.864722· OSTI ID:6821869
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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), Journal Name: Phys. Fluids; (United States) Vol. 27:5; ISSN PFLDA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
700101 -- Fusion Energy-- Plasma Research-- Confinement
Heating
&amp; Production
700107* -- Fusion Energy-- Plasma Research-- Instabilities
700108 -- Fusion Energy-- Plasma Research-- Wave Phenomena
ANALYTICAL SOLUTION
BOLTZMANN STATISTICS
BOLTZMANN-VLASOV EQUATION
CLOSED PLASMA DEVICES
COUPLING
CYCLOTRON FREQUENCY
DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
DRIFT INSTABILITY
EQUATIONS
EQUILIBRIUM
EXPLOSIVE INSTABILITY
FLUTE INSTABILITY
GUIDING-CENTER APPROXIMATION
INHOMOGENEOUS PLASMA
INSTABILITY
ION WAVE INSTABILITY
KINETIC EQUATIONS
LOSS CONE INSTABILITY
PARAMETRIC INSTABILITIES
PARTIAL DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
PLASMA
PLASMA INSTABILITY
PLASMA MACROINSTABILITIES
PLASMA MICROINSTABILITIES
PLASMA WAVES
THERMONUCLEAR DEVICES
TOKAMAK DEVICES