Transition to turbulence in a crossed-field gap

Journal Article · Thu Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1994 · Physics of Plasmas; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.870915· OSTI ID:6836120

Christenson, P J; Lau, Y Y ^[1]

---

1. Intense Energy Beam Interaction Laboratory, Department of Nuclear Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-2104 (United States)

The transition from laminar to turbulent behavior of the electron sheath in a cross-field gap is examined for the regime [ital B][gt][ital B][sub H], where [ital B] is the external magnetic field and [ital B][sub H] is the Hull cutoff value. An analytic expression is presented for the critical emitted current beyond which laminar solutions cease to exist. A one-dimensional particle code is used to corroborate the analytic theory. This code shows several interesting properties when the emitted current exceeds the critical value. Chief among them is the presence of a turbulent microsheath near the cathode surface. The electrostatic potential in the gap's vacuum region is found to oscillate at a frequency that is quite insensitive to the emitted current and to the electrons' emission velocity.

• OSTI ID: 6836120
• Journal Information: Physics of Plasmas; (United States), Journal Name: Physics of Plasmas; (United States) Vol. 1:12; ISSN PHPAEN; ISSN 1070-664X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

661220 -- Particle Beam Production & Handling
70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
700370* -- Plasma Fluid & MHD Properties-- (1992-)
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ANODES
BEAMS
CATHODES
CROSSED FIELDS
CURRENT DENSITY
ELECTRODES
ELECTRON BEAMS
ELECTRON EMISSION
ELECTRON TUBES
EMISSION
FLUID FLOW
LEPTON BEAMS
MAGNETIC FIELDS
PARTICLE BEAMS
PLASMA SHEATH
TRANSITION FLOW
TURBULENT FLOW
Ta
Targets-- (1992-)