Return current instability and its effects on beam-plasma system

Goswami, B. N. ; Lakhina, G. S. ; Buti, B. (1974) Return current instability and its effects on beam-plasma system Pramana - Journal of Physics, 3 (1). pp. 10-27. ISSN 0304-4289

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Official URL: http://www.ias.ac.in/j_archive/pramana/3/1/10-27/v...

Related URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF02847265

Abstract

The return current induced in a plasma by a relativisitc electron beam generates a new electron-ion two-stream instability (return current instability). Although the effect of these currents on the beam-plasma e-e instability is negligible, there exists a range of wave numbers which is unstable only to return current (RC) instability and not to e-e instability. The electromagnetic waves propagating along the direction of the external magnetic field, in which the plasma is immersed, are stabilized by these currents but the e.m. waves with frequencies,ω2≪Ω e 2 ≪ω pe 2 (Ω e and ω pe being cyclotron and plasma frequency for the electrons of the plasma respectively) propagating transverse to the magnetic field get destabilized. Heuristic estimates of plasma heating, due to RC instability and due to decay of ion-acoustic turbulence generated by the return current, are made. The fastest time scale on which the return current delivers energy to the plasma due to the scattering of ion-sound waves by the electrons can be ∼ω pi -1 (ω pi being the plasma frequency for the ions).

Item Type:Article
Source:Copyright of this article belongs to Indian Academy of Sciences.
Keywords:Return Current Instability; Beam-plasma Interactions; Plasma Heating
ID Code:71831
Deposited On:29 Nov 2011 12:32
Last Modified:18 May 2016 17:21

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