Electron transport and permittivity in a plasma with an arbitrary ionic charge

Based on the solution of a linearized kinetic equation for electrons with a Landau collision integral, we develop a theory of electron transport for small perturbations in a completely ionized plasma with an arbitrary ionic charge that is free from any constraints on the characteristic perturbation time and length scales. We calculate the potential and vortex electron fluxes for an arbitrary electron collision frequency that allow the spatial and temporal nonlocal transport to be described. We also derive expressions for the longitudinal and transverse electron permittivities of a collisional plasma with an arbitrary ionic charge that are suitable for describing the plasma response to small perturbations with an arbitrary frequency and wave vector. Using the transverse permittivity, which allows the absorption of an electromagnetic wave to be described in the entire range of plasma parameters (from the strongly collisional to the collisionless one), as an example, we provide a detailed comparison with previously known models.     

Effect of subsonic toroidal flows on plasma poloidal rotation and ion heat conductivity. In collisional plasmas of elongated tokamaks

The ion poloidal rotation and heat conductivity in collisional plasmas of axially-symmetric tokamaks with elongated cross-sections and with subsonic toroidal plasma flows are considered. It is shown that subsonic toroidal plasma flows, induced by neutral beam injection or radio frequency waves, can strongly affect the poloidal plasma velocity and ion heat conductivity in collisional plasmas of tokamaks. The transport coefficients also depend on the tokamak ellipticity parameter which, in combination with the Mach number, allows to operate transport processes at smaller values of the toroidal Mach number. The importance of taking into account the ion-electron heat exchange and electron temperature toroidal perturbations to find ion temperature toroidal perturbations is demonstrated. This work was partially supported by the State University of Rio de Janeiro (UERJ) and the Rio de Janeiro Research Foundation (FAPERJ).     

Losses and nonlinear steady-state particle distribution functions for fully ionized tokamak-plasmas in the collisional transport regimes

Fully ionized L-mode tokamak plasmas in the fully collisional (Pfirsch-Schlüter) and in the low-collisional (banana) nonlinear transport regimes are analyzed. We derive the expressions for particles and heat losses together with the steady-state particle distribution functions in the several collisional transport regimes. The validity of the nonlinear closure equations, previously derived, has been indirectly tested by checking that the obtained particle distribution functions are indeed solutions of the nonlinear, steady-state, Vlasov-Landau gyro-kinetic equations. A quite encouraging result is the fact that, for L-mode tokamak plasmas a dissymmetry appears between the ion and electron transport coefficients: the latter submits to a nonlinear correction, which makes the radial electron coefficients much larger than the former. In particular we show that when the L-mode JET plasma is out of the linear region, the Pfirsch-Schlüter electron transport coefficients are corrected by an amplification factor, which may reach values of order 10². Such a correction is absent for ions. On the contrary, in the banana regime, the ion transport coefficients are increased by a factor 2 and the nonlinear corrections for electrons are negligible. These results are in line with experiments.     

Ultrashort-laser-pulse absorption with spatial dispersion and nonlocal transport effects

We study ultrashort-laser-pulse absorption and plasma heating at a sharp plasma–vacuum interface using advanced models for all-range plasma permittivity and nonlocal heat transport. The electron response includes both collisional and collisionless dissipative effects in the plasma of an arbitrary ion charge. We show that nonlocal electron heat transport is important for correct determination of the value of electron temperature and spatial temperature profile. Nonlocal electron heat flux comes into play after electrons heat up to temperatures of the order of 1 keV and to temperatures several times less for low-density targets.     

�Ż������������˲�������ֵ��

采用高密度等离子体电子传导模型,计算出了一整套适用于模拟强磁场下任意混合材料中局部电离和局部简并的等离子体中的输运参数,获得的参数在很宽的等离子体温度和密度范围内有合理的精度,可广泛应用于Z箍缩等离子体、激光聚变和磁约束聚变的模拟。     

Nonlinear dynamics of the space charge in a photorefractive crystal under pulsed photoinjection

An analysis is made of the nonlinear relaxation of the charge formed in a photoconducting material as a result of the absorption of a light pulse. Calculations are made of the distribution profiles of the excess carriers and the density of the photoinduced charge in various transport regimes. The influence of contact phenomena on the dynamics of the space charge is examined and solutions are obtained for boundary conditions corresponding to a blocking contact with an illuminated electrode and optical breakdown of the contact. An investigation is made of the evolution of the integral pulse response under transverse electrooptic modulation. The results are suitable for analyzing two geometric recording systems for entering information into a space-time light modulator with arbitrary absorption and for recording a holographic grating in the limit of low absorption coefficients. Zh. Tekh. Fiz. 69, 71–79 (June 1999)     

Initial Measurements of Plasma Potential in the Core of the MST Reversed Field Pinch with a Heavy Ion Beam Probe

Measurement of the plasma potential in the core of MST marks both the first interior potential measurements in an RFP, as well as the first measurements by a Heavy Ion Beam Probe (HIBP) in an RFP. The HIBP has operated with (20-110) keV sodium beams in plasmas with toroidal currents of (200-480) kA over a wide range of densities and magnetic equilibrium conditions. A positive plasma potential is measured in the core, consistent with the expectation of rapid electron transport by magnetic fluctuations and the formation of an outwardly directed ambipolar radial electric field. Comparison between the radial electric field and plasma flow is underway to determine the extent to which equilibrium flow is governed by E×B. Measurements of potential and density fluctuations are also in progress.Unlike HIBP applications in tokamak plasmas, the beam trajectories in MST (RFP) are both three-dimensional and temporally dynamic with magnetic equilibrium changes associated with sawteeth. This complication offers new opportunity for magnetic measurements via the Heavy Ion Beam Probe (HIBP). The ion orbit trajectories are included in a Grad-Shafranov toroidal equilibrium reconstruction, helping to measure the internal magnetic field and current profiles. Such reconstructions are essential to identifying the beam sample volume locations, and they are vital in MST's mission to suppress MHD tearing modes using current profile control techniques. Measurement of the electric field may be accomplished by combining single point measurements from multiple discharges, or by varying the injection angle of the beam during single discharges.The application of an HIBP on MST has posed challenges resulting in additional diagnostic advances. The requirement to keep ports small to avoid introducing magnetic field perturbations has led to the design and successful implementation of cross-over sweep systems. High levels of ultraviolet radiation are driving alternative methods of sweep plate operation. While, substantial levels of plasma flux into the HIBP diagnostic chambers has led to the use of magnetic plasma suppression.     

Simplified calculations of a thermionic converter in the ignited mode

The charged particle transport in the plasma of a thermionic converter in the ignited mode is treated to be due to the charged particle density gradient and the electric field. The corresponding coefficients as well as the numerical treatment of the ionization and recombination processes are taken from the literature, the latter one in a suitable approximation. The electron temperature is assumed to be uniform within the gap. Taking account of the boundary conditions for the electron and ion currents and for the flux of the kinetic electron energy analytical solutions are found whose numerical evaluations can easily be performed. To make allowance for the Schottky effect and a double sheath at the emitter surface is shown to be necessary and possible with moderate effort for the calculation of I-V curves. The validity limit of the model is discussed.     

Ion velocity shear-induced drift wave and momentum transport in non-Maxwellian magnetoplasma flows

We have investigated the diamagnetic flow in a non-uniform partially ionized plasma with non-Maxwellian electron population to explain the dynamics of ion velocity shear-induced low-frequency drift mode and associated instabilities. The dispersion relations are found, and instability threshold conditions are pointed out along with ion-parallel momentum transport due to drift motion with relative phase shift of fluctuating quantities in a non-conservative system. The real frequencies and instability growth rates are studied numerically and illustrated for typical space and laboratory plasmas. This study should be useful in understanding some aspects of low-frequency time-delayed perturbations with sheared flow leading to drift instabilities and cross-field parallel ion momentum transport in nonuniform magnetoplasmas containing a non-Maxwellian electron population.     

Transport Coefficients in Dense Plasmas Including Ion‐Ion Structure Factor

Within linear response theory, a general approach to the thermoelectric transport coefficients for fully ionized hydrogen‐type plasma has been given. Different approximations for the collision integral are considered. Particular attention is given to dynamical screening and the ion‐ion structure factor. Results are presented for the electrical conductivity, the thermal conductivity, and the thermopower in the non‐degenerate limit (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Kinetic susceptibility and transport theory of collisional plasmas

A system of nonlocal electron transport equations for electrostatic perturbations in (omega,k) space in a high-Z plasma is derived from the Fokker-Planck equation for arbitrary relations between the time, space, and collisionality scales. The closed scheme for obtaining the longitudinal plasma susceptibility epsilon(omega,k) in the entire (omega,k) plane is proposed. Regions in the (omega,k) plane have been mapped for problems such as the relaxation of the local temperature enhancement with a time-dependent heat conductivity. The electron dielectric permittivity has been calculated over the entire range of parameters, including the transition region between Vlasov and Fokker-Planck equation solutions.     

Permittivity of plasma and nonstationary theory of nonlocal transport

A regular procedure is proposed for finding the solution to a linearized kinetic equation for charged particles with the Landau collision integral in a plasma with large Z. The expression for longitudinal permittivity of a collisional plasma, which is obtained using this procedure for the entire range of frequencies and wavenumbers, as well as the collision parameter, is transformed to the known expressions in the corresponding asymptotic limits. The nonlocal transport equations for small perturbations are also formulated for arbitrary relations between the characteristic space and time scales of the plasma; these relations considerably extend the limits of applicability for previously developed theories.     

Formation of a pulsed electron beam in a plasmacathode system under forevacuum pressures

Results of an experimental study of the features of the production of pulsed beams by a plasma electron source operating in the forevacuum pressure range (5–15 Pa) are presented. For this pressure range, the emission properties of the plasma are substantially affected by the backward ion flow generated in the regions of formation and transport of the electron beam. It has been shown that in experimental conditions the ratio of the current of backward ions to the current of the electron beam can reach 10%, which is an order of magnitude greater than the same parameter for electron sources operating in the pressure range that is conventional for devices of this type (0.01–0.1 Pa). The principal factors that impose an upper limit on the beam current in a plasma-cathode source are analyzed.     

Nature of the isotope effect on transport in tokamaks

The reduction of energy and particle losses with the increasing mass of the hydrogen isotope is more pronounced under conditions of improved confinement when the dominant ion temperature gradient instability is suppressed and other channels of anomalous transport are of importance. In this Letter, we reconsider the dissipative trapped electron (DTE) instability by taking into account finite Larmor radius effects in the analysis of the ion response to perturbations. By applying the improved mixing length approximation in order to estimate the transport coefficients, it is demonstrated that DTE contribution is intrinsically dependent on the isotope mass and provides a plausible explanation for the isotope effect. Contrary to the common belief, it is shown that the DTE turbulence may be of importance for reactor plasmas of low collisionality.     

Gyroscopic precession in non-circular orbits: a phase-locked tetrad approach

We deduce the explicit form of a phase-locked (PL) tetrad, adapted to a small spinning particle (a test gyroscope) following an arbitrary geodesic orbit in the Schwarzschild geometry of a gravitational source. We subsequently obtain the analytic expression of the gyroscopic precessional velocity Ω in a non-circular orbit, by means of the Fermi rotation coefficients related to the tetrad’s transport law. As an application, we compute the orbital shift in the spin vector, considering a spinning test particle (the gyroscope) in a slightly non-circular orbital motion in the weak gravitational field limit. We compare our results with those of other previous works.     

Effect of an electron beam generated in an X-pinch plasma on the structure of the K spectra of multiply charged ions

The first experimental studies of an electron beam generated in an X pinch on the XP machine (Cornell University, USA) and the BIN machine (P. N. Lebedev Physical Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences) are reported. It is shown that it is possible in an X pinch to isolate the effect of a plasma-generated electron beam on the multiply charged ion radiation. The intensities of the satellite lines corresponding to Li-, Be-, B-, and C-like ions are calculated for the Al spectrum on the basis of a collisional-radiative model with a non-Maxwellian electron distribution in the plasma. The effect of an electron beam on the multiply charged light ion radiation in an X-pinch plasma is demonstrated. Comparing our calculations with the experimental spectra, we conclude that the present model can be used to estimate the electron beam intensity. Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 112, 894–909 (September 1997)     

The influence of striction density perturbations on the excitation of plasma oscillations inside thermal inhomogeneities of plasma

In this paper, we continue our studies begun in [Izv. Vyssh. Uchebn. Zaved., Radiofiz.,41, No. 3, 270 (1998)].Calculating the coefficients and nonlinear phase shift in the equation for plasma-wave intensity introduced in the eralier paper, we have solved the problem of the influence of striction perturbations of the plasma density on the excitation of shortwave plasma oscillations by an electromagnetic wave; the above oscillations are captured in a volume of inhomogeneities, which are extended along the magnetic field and have reduced electron density that crosses the level of the upper-hybrid resonance. The dissipative processes of absorption and emission of plasma waves beyond the inhomogeneity are assumed to be weak. The variation of excitation and reflection of plasma waves from the resonance level due to deformation of the plasma- density profile is described. The band of effective generation of eigenmodes of captured oscillations as a function of the total wave-phase increment in an inhomogeneity is determined. The effect of penetration of the field of a high-power plasma wave into the non-transmittance region as a result of the striction expulsion of plasma is calculated. With allowance for the nonlinear phenomena in question, we estimated the heating of artificial inhomogeneities of thermal origin as a result of collisional absorption of the plasma oscillations excited in a volume of inhomogeneities under the action of a high-power radio wave. The materials of this paper were reported at the IIIrd International School on Space Plasma Physics. Institute of Terrestrial Magnetism, Ionosphere, and Radio Wave Propagation, Russian Academy of Sciences, Troitsk, Moscow Region, Russia. Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Radiofizika, Vol. 41, No. 10, pp. 1226–1247, October 1998.     

Filamentation and stimulated Brillouin scattering in a turbulent plasma

This paper presents a theory of filamentation and stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) of high-frequency electromagnetic radiation in a weakly collisional plasma with ion-acoustic turbulence. When the square of the wavelength of the plasma perturbations is less than the product of the two mean free path lengths of an electron with respect to its collisions with turbulent fluctuations and with electrons, the influence of cold highly collisional electrons on the parametric instabilities becomes apparent. It is shown that the plasma turbulence lowers the filamentation threshold, and the SBS threshold can be either lowered or raised. The dependence of the SBS and filamentation thresholds on the electron mean free path length in the turbulent plasma and on the anisotropy of the plasma turbulence is determined. The corresponding dependence of the spatial scale of the most efficiently growing filaments and their spatial growth rate are found. Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 113, 629–645 (February 1998)     

双温度氦等离子体输运性质计算

获得覆盖较宽温度和压力范围内的等离子体输运性质是进行等离子体传热和流动过程数值模拟的必要条件.本文采用Saha方程计算等离子体组分, 采用基于将Chapman-Enskog方法扩展到高阶近似的方法, 计算获得了电子温度(T_e)不等于重粒子温度(T_h)的情形下, 在300 K到40000 K的温度范围内氦等离子体的黏性、热导率和电导率. 研究结果表明压力和热力学非平衡参数(θ =T_e/T_h)对氦等离子体的输运性质有较大的影响. 在局域热力学平衡条件下,计算获得的氦等离子体输运性质和文献报道的数据符合良好.