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Title: Nonlinear magnetic field transport in opening switch plasmas

Abstract

The nonlinear transport of magnetic field in collisionless plasmas, as present in the plasma opening switch (POS), using the implicit multifluid simulation code ANTHEM [J. Comput. Phys. [bold 71], 429 (1987)] is studied. The focus is on early time behavior in the electron--magnetohydrodynamic (EMHD) limit, with the ions fixed, and the electrons streaming as a fluid under the influence of [bold v][sub [ital e]][times][bold B] Hall forces. Through simulation, magnetic penetration and magnetic exclusion waves are characterized, due to the Hall effect in the presence of transverse density gradients, and the interaction of these Hall waves with nonlinear diffusive disturbances from electron velocity advection, ([bold v][sub [ital e]][center dot][del])[bold v][sub [ital e]], is studied. It is shown how these mechanisms give rise to the anode magnetic insulation layer, central diffusion, and cathode potential hill structures seen in earlier opening switch plasmas studies.

Authors:
 [1]; ; ; ; ;  [2]
  1. Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545 (United States)
  2. Laboratory of Plasma Studies, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853 (United States)
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
6685000
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Physics of Fluids B; (United States)
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 5:4; Journal ID: ISSN 0899-8221
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY; PLASMA SWITCHES; TRANSPORT THEORY; COLLISIONLESS PLASMA; ELECTRONS; HALL EFFECT; MAGNETIC FIELDS; PLASMA SIMULATION; RELATIVISTIC PLASMA; ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT; ELEMENTARY PARTICLES; EQUIPMENT; FERMIONS; LEPTONS; PLASMA; SIMULATION; SWITCHES; 700350* - Plasma Production, Heating, Current Drive, & Interactions- (1992-)

Citation Formats

Mason, R J, Auer, P L, Sudan, R N, Oliver, B V, Seyler, C E, and Greenly, J B. Nonlinear magnetic field transport in opening switch plasmas. United States: N. p., 1993. Web. doi:10.1063/1.860955.
Mason, R J, Auer, P L, Sudan, R N, Oliver, B V, Seyler, C E, & Greenly, J B. Nonlinear magnetic field transport in opening switch plasmas. United States. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.860955
Mason, R J, Auer, P L, Sudan, R N, Oliver, B V, Seyler, C E, and Greenly, J B. 1993. "Nonlinear magnetic field transport in opening switch plasmas". United States. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.860955.
@article{osti_6685000,
title = {Nonlinear magnetic field transport in opening switch plasmas},
author = {Mason, R J and Auer, P L and Sudan, R N and Oliver, B V and Seyler, C E and Greenly, J B},
abstractNote = {The nonlinear transport of magnetic field in collisionless plasmas, as present in the plasma opening switch (POS), using the implicit multifluid simulation code ANTHEM [J. Comput. Phys. [bold 71], 429 (1987)] is studied. The focus is on early time behavior in the electron--magnetohydrodynamic (EMHD) limit, with the ions fixed, and the electrons streaming as a fluid under the influence of [bold v][sub [ital e]][times][bold B] Hall forces. Through simulation, magnetic penetration and magnetic exclusion waves are characterized, due to the Hall effect in the presence of transverse density gradients, and the interaction of these Hall waves with nonlinear diffusive disturbances from electron velocity advection, ([bold v][sub [ital e]][center dot][del])[bold v][sub [ital e]], is studied. It is shown how these mechanisms give rise to the anode magnetic insulation layer, central diffusion, and cathode potential hill structures seen in earlier opening switch plasmas studies.},
doi = {10.1063/1.860955},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/6685000}, journal = {Physics of Fluids B; (United States)},
issn = {0899-8221},
number = ,
volume = 5:4,
place = {United States},
year = {Thu Apr 01 00:00:00 EST 1993},
month = {Thu Apr 01 00:00:00 EST 1993}
}