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Cyclotron maser instability for general magnetic harmonic number

Journal Article · · Phys. Fluids; (United States)
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.862105· OSTI ID:6985052

The cyclotron maser instability for general magnetic harmonic number transverse electric (TE) and transverse magnetic (TM) waveguide modes in a conducting cylinder of radius R/sub c/ are examined. The analysis is carried out for a hollow electron beam (radius R/sub 0/) propagating parallel to a uniform axial magnetic field B/sub 0/e/sub z/. It is assumed that ..nu../..gamma../sub 0/very-much-less-than1, where ..nu.. is Budker's parameter and ..gamma../sub 0/mc/sup 2/ is the electron energy in a frame of reference moving with the beam axial velocity ..beta../sub b/ce/sub z/. One of the most important features of the analysis is that the instability growth rate for magnetic harmonic numbers s=2,3,... is comparable to the growth rate of the fundamental (s=1) mode, particularly for moderate electron energy (..beta../sub 0/= (1-1/..gamma../sup 2//sub 0/)/sup 1/2/> or approx. =0.4). Moreover, it is shown that the instability growth rate can be maximized by appropriate choice of the geometric parameter R/sub 0//R/sub c/.

Research Organization:
Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742
OSTI ID:
6985052
Journal Information:
Phys. Fluids; (United States), Journal Name: Phys. Fluids; (United States) Vol. 21:10; ISSN PFLDA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English