Influence of strong inhomogeneities on high-frequency mirror-drift-cone and convective-loss-cone instabilities

Journal Article · Thu Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1977 · Phys. Fluids; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.862051· OSTI ID:7219419

Davidson, R; Gladd, N T

The basic linear local theory of the mirror-drift-cone and convective-loss-cone instabilities is extended to include modifications due to strong spatial inhomogeneities (vertical-barpartiallnN/partialxvertical-bar/sup -1/=L/sub N/approximately-less-thanr/sub L i/), assuming high-frequency perturbations characterized by ..omega../sub c i/very-much-less-thanvertical-bar..omega../sub r/+ i..gamma..vertical-barapprox. = (..omega../sub c e/..omega../sub c i/)/sup 1///sup 2/ and k/sup 2//sub y/r/sup 2//sub L i/very-much-greater-than1. The continuous deformation of the convective-loss-cone instability from a regime where maximum growth occurs for kxB/sub 0/not-equal0 (weak inhomogeneities) to a regime where maximum growth occurs for kxB/sub 0/=0 (strong inhomogeneities) is investigated. Moreover, it is found that the reference dispersion relation for the mirror-drift-cone instability (derived in the weak inhomogeneity limit with r/sup 2//sub L i/very-much-less-thanL/sup 2//sub n/) gives a remarkably good (albeit fortuitous) estimate of the linear growth rate even when r/sub L i/approximately-greater-thanL/sub n/. Finally, we compare several properties of the mirror-drift-cone and convective-loss-cone instabilities (loss-cone ions) with properties of the lower-hybrid-drift and modified-two-stream instabilities (Maxwellian ions).

• Research Organization: Division of Magnetic Fusion Energy, Energy Research and Development Administration, Washington, D. C. 20545
• OSTI ID: 7219419
• Journal Information: Phys. Fluids; (United States), Journal Name: Phys. Fluids; (United States) Vol. 20:9; ISSN PFLDA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
700107* -- Fusion Energy-- Plasma Research-- Instabilities
CONVECTIVE INSTABILITIES
DISPERSION RELATIONS
DISTRIBUTION FUNCTIONS
DRIFT INSTABILITY
INHOMOGENEOUS PLASMA
INSTABILITY
INSTABILITY GROWTH RATES
LOSS CONE INSTABILITY
MAGNETIC MIRRORS
OPEN PLASMA DEVICES
PLASMA
PLASMA INSTABILITY
PLASMA MICROINSTABILITIES
THERMONUCLEAR DEVICES
TWO-STREAM INSTABILITY