Simulation studies of non-neutral plasma equilibria in anelectrostatic trap with magnetic mirror

Journal Article · Thu Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 2006 · Physics of Plasmas

OSTI ID:928427

Gomberoff, K; Fajans, J; Wurtele, J; Friedman, A; Grote, D P; Cohen, R H; Vay, J-L

The equilibrium of an infinitely long, strongly magnetized, non-neutral plasma confined in a Penning-Malmberg trap with an additional mirror coil has been solved analytically [J. Fajans, Phys. Plasmas 10, 1209 (2003)] and shown to exhibit unusual features. Particles not only reflect near the mirror in the low field region, but also may be weakly trapped in part of in the high field region. The plasma satisfies a Boltzmann distribution along field lines; however, the density and the potential vary along field lines. Some other simplifying assumptions were employed in order to analytically characterize the equilibrium; for example the interface region between the low and high field regions was not considered. The earlier results are confirmed in the present study, where two-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations are performed with the Warp code in a more realistic configuration with an arbitrary (but physical) density profile, realistic trap geometry and magnetic field. A range of temperatures and radial plasma sizes are considered. Particle tracking is used to identify populations of trapped and untrapped particles. The present study also shows that it is possible to obtain local equilibria of non-neutral plasmas using a collisionless PIC code, by a scheme that uses the inherent numerical collisionality as a proxy for physical collisions.

• Research Organization: Ernest Orlando Lawrence Berkeley NationalLaboratory, Berkeley, CA (US)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Director. Office of Science. Fusion EnergySciences
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-05CH11231
• OSTI ID: 928427
• Report Number(s): LBNL--60317; HIFAN 1452; BnR: AT5015031
• Journal Information: Physics of Plasmas, Journal Name: Physics of Plasmas Vol. 14; ISSN PHPAEN; ISSN 1070-664X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
CONFIGURATION
DISTRIBUTION
ELECTROSTATICS
GEOMETRY
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MAGNETIC MIRRORS
MIRRORS
PLASMA
SIMULATION