Stimulated Raman backward scattering of a laser beam in a magnetized plasma

Stimulated Raman scattering of a laser beam is investigated in the plasma with strong self generated magnetic field. The magnetized plasma supports various localized radial and azimuthal modes of lower hybrid frequencies. The density fluctuations due to lower hybrid modes couple with the oscillating velocity due to the pump, and drive the scattered wave. Equations describing the Raman process are derived and effects of various modes are studied on the growth rate analytically. Self generated magnetic field has a strong localization effect on the Raman process and growth rate is maximum for radial eigen mode number q = 0 and azimuthal eigen mode number l = 3. The frequency shift has signatures of self generated magnetic field and could serve as a diagnostic.     

Transport of a cathodic arc plasma in a straight, magnetized duct

Measurements are presented of the transport of a supersonic, cathodic-arc plasma through a straight, magnetized duct. These measurements are compared to previous work on curved ducts, in order to illuminate the effect of duct curvature on the transport. The axial ion flux through the straight duct decays as ions are lost to the walls. This decay is exponential, with a scale length of seven duct radii; this is two to three times longer than in most experiments on curved ducts. The scale length is independent of the magnetic field strength for fields from 5-40 mT. (For this range of magnetic fields, the electron Larmor radius varies from 0.03-0.003 duct radii; while the ion Larmor radius varies from 4-0.5 duct radii.) This differs from previous experiments with curved ducts, where the attenuation length generally increases with magnetic field. Also in contrast to experiments on curved ducts, biasing the duct wall to positive voltages similar to the ion energy produces only a slight decrease in the ion losses to the wall. The observed scale length for ion loss and its independence from the magnetic field strength are in quantitative agreement with a plasma fluid simulation. Differences in plasma transport through straight and curved ducts are discussed     

Obliquely propagating ion-acoustic solitons in a warm-ion magnetized plasma

Considering the charge separation effect, the soliton solution of the KdV equation is discussed for a warm-ion magnetized plasma with two Maxwellian electron components. The effect of ion temperature, obliqueness and magnetization on the amplitude and width of the soliton is discussed in detail. The theory is applied to the case of rarefactive solitons observed in the magnetosphere.     

Variation of filamentation phenomenon in strongly magnetized plasma with various discharge parameters

Filamentation phenomenon is one of the most important outcomes of applying a strong magnetic field to low-pressure plasmas and dusty plasmas. In this article, the variation of filamentation phenomenon with neutral gas pressure and plasma density will be investigated using numerical simulations. It will be shown through these simulations how the formation of the filamentary patterns in the magnetized plasma results in a localized electric field structure that strongly contributes to the properties of the filamentary patterns. Based on the results of the simulations, a theoretical model is derived that relates the width of the filamentary patterns to the plasma density. The model has been successfully employed to predict the width of the patterns emerging in various simulations of the magnetized plasma.     

Ion velocity distribution function investigated inside an unstable magnetized plasma exhibiting a rotating nonlinear structure

The frequent situation where a strongly nonlinear rotating structure develops in a linear magnetized plasma column is investigated experimentally with emphasis on the ion velocity distribution function (IVDF). Most often, a mode m=2 appears exhibiting a large density and potential perturbation with angular frequency slightly above the ion cyclotron frequency. For the first time the spatiotemporal evolution of the IVDF is studied using time-resolved laser induced fluorescence to explore the ion's interaction with the nonlinear wave propagating inside the column and at the origin of plasma transport outside the limiter. The ion fluid exhibits an alternance from azimuthal to radial velocity due to the electric field inside the rotating structure. A fluid model also allows us to locally reconstruct the self-consistent electric field evolution which contradicts all existing theories.     

Investigation of Ion Drift Waves in the PSI‐2 Using Langmuir‐Probes

The properties of on drift waves observed in the rotating magnetized plasma column of the PSI‐2 are analysed. Their parallel wave numbers are found to be nearly zero, the measured azimuthal dispersion relation is approximately linear, and the azimuthal phase velocity is nearly equal to the azimuthal on drift velocity. Furthermore, the potential fluctuations always lag behind the density fluctuations with a phase shift slightly below π. A simple analytical model, describing the potential‐and density distribution of the ion drift wave, shows the underlying mechanism of the on drift instability. Finally, a classification of the observed on drift instability is given.     

A model for steady-state large-volume plasma generation

A simple scheme for generating a uniform, steady-state, large-volume plasma is presented. The weakly magnetized plasma is created by direct ionization of the background gas by low-energy electrons generated from thermionic filaments. An annular arrangement of the filaments ensures a uniform plasma density in the radial direction as predicted by theory. Experiments have been performed to characterize the plasma generated in such a configuration. In order to explain the experimental observation, a bulk plasma theory based on plasma transport by means of cross-field diffusion is developed. As assumed in the theoretical model, the experimental measurements indicate a uniform plasma density along the axis. Both the theory and experiment indicate that the plasma density is a function of the square of the external magnetic field. The theory also predicts the plasma density to be proportional to the neutral density to the two-thirds power, in agreement with the experimental data. The experimental data agree well with theoretical prediction for a broad range of system parameters     

Theory of mach cones in magnetized dusty plasmas with strongly correlated charged dust grains

A theory for the formation of Mach cones in a magnetized dusty plasma with strongly correlated charged dust grains has been presented. We use the electron and ion susceptibilities for weakly correlated magnetized electrons and ions as well as the strongly correlated unmagnetized dust grain susceptibilities which are obtained by means of the quasilocalized charge approximation and a generalized hydrodynamic model. The plasma dielectric response of the present system reveals the parametric regimes for which Mach cones in a strongly coupled laboratory dusty magnetoplasma can be formed. We suggest conducting experiments in radiofrequency dusty plasma discharges with superconducting magnets for verifying the theoretical prediction of Mach cones that is made herein.     

Observations of plasma line splitting in the ionospheric incoherent scatter spectrum

Wide-bandwidth ionospheric incoherent scatter (IS) spectra obtained using the Arecibo IS radar show the occurrence of a split in the plasma line (i.e., two plasma lines) when the plasma frequency is close to the second harmonic of the electron gyrofrequency. This split is predicted in the IS theory for a magnetized plasma, but observations have never been reported. Here we present the experimental results and theoretical calculations supporting the observations. These results may assist in understanding the behavior of Langmuir waves in the magnetized plasma and are a validation of what historically was a somewhat controversial aspect of the IS theory.     

Ultrarelativistic excitation of beat waves in a hot magnetized plasma

Summary A theoretical investigation is made on the nonlinear relativistic excitation of an electrostatic electron plasma wave at the beat frequency of two high-power colinear laser beams in a hot, homogeneous and magnetized plasma. The relativistic Vlasov equation expressed in gyrokinetic variables has been employed to find the nonlinear response of the magnetized plasma electrons. It is noted that the power density associated with the excited beat wave is much higher for the relativistic consideration than that for the nonrelativistic consideration. The authors of this paper have agreed to not receive the proofs for correction.     

The collisions of two ion acoustic solitary waves in a magnetized nonextensive plasma

Using the extended Poincaré-Lighthill-Kuo (EPLK) method, the interaction between two ion acoustic solitary waves (IASWs) in a multicomponent magnetized plasma (including Tsallis nonextensive electrons) has been theoretically investigated. The analytical phase shifts of the two solitary waves after interaction are estimated. The proposed model leads to rarefactive solitons only. The effects of colliding angle, ratio of number densities of (positive/negative) ions species to the density of nonextensive electrons, ion-to-electron temperature ratio, mass ratio of the negative-to-positive ions and the electron nonextensive parameter on the phase shifts are investigated numerically. The present results show that these parameters have strong effects on the phase shifts and trajectories of the two IASWs after collision. Evidently, this model is helpful for interpreting the propagation and the oblique collision of IASWs in magnetized multicomponent plasma experiments and space observations.     

Propagation of azimuthal waves along the surface of a metal current-carrying cylinder immersed into a magnetized plasma

It is shown that a metal current-carrying cylinder immersed into a cold magnetized plasma is a waveguide structure, in which coupled bulk ordinarily polarized and surface extraordinarily polarized waves can propagate along the azimuthal direction. Their interaction, stipulated by the fact that besides the longitudinal component, the external magnetic field has also a weak azimuthal component, is studied. Analytical expressions for the corrections to the eigenfrequency of these waves, stipulated by the effect of a constant azimuthal magnetic field, are obtained for the case of a uniform plasma density. __________ Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Radiofizika, Vol. 51, No. 2, pp. 122–135, February 2008.     

Quantitative simulations of ratchet potential in a dusty plasma ratchet

Using a dusty plasma ratchet, one can realize the rectification of charged dust particle in a plasma. To obtain the ratchet potential dominating the rectification, here we perform quantitative simulations based on a two-dimensional fluid model of capacitively coupled plasma. Plasma parameters are firstly calculated in two typical cross sections of the dusty plasma ratchet which cut vertically the saw channel at different azimuthal positions. The balance positions of charged dust particle in the two cross sections then can be found exactly. The electric potentials at the two balance positions have different values. Using interpolation in term of a double-sine function from previous experimental measurement, an asymmetrical ratchet potential along the saw channel is finally obtained. The asymmetrical orientation of the ratchet potential depends on discharge conditions. Quantitative simulations further reproduce our previous experimental phenomena such as the rectification of dust particle in the dusty plasma ratchet.     

Beat-wave resonant down scattering of diocotron and Kelvin modes

A theory is presented of beat-wave resonant down scattering of two-dimensional diocotron (or Kelvin) modes, in which modes down scatter to lower azimuthal mode number. The phenomenon is a fluid analogue to nonlinear Landau damping. The principal new result is a quantitative prediction of the scattering rate. The predicted rates and scalings are close to those observed in experiments with magnetized electron columns.     

Experimental observation of radiation from cherenkov wakes in a magnetized plasma

A proof-of-principle experiment demonstrates the generation of radiation from the Cherenkov wake excited by an ultrashort- and ultrahigh-power pulse laser in a perpendicularly magnetized plasma. The frequency of the radiation is in the millimeter range (up to 200 GHz). The intensity of the radiation is proportional to the magnetic field intensity as expected by theory. Polarization of the emitted radiation is also detected. The difference in the frequency of the emitted radiation between these experiments and previous theory can be explained by the electrons' oscillation in the electric field of a narrow column of ions in the focal region.     

An Experimental Investigation of Second Harmonic Generation in a Cyclotron and Upper Hybrid Resonant Plasma

An experiment is described in which an electromagnetic wave (extraordinary mode) is propagated across a magnetized plasma and second harmonic generation is detected. The generation of the plasma and the second harmonic wave is associated with resonant conditions of electron cyclotron resonance and upper hybrid resonance. By adjusting the intensity of axial magnetic field, the second harmonic generation can be made solely due to the electron cyclotron resonance, the upper hybrid resonance or both. The experiment is qualitatively in agreement with previous similar experiments and can be explained in terms of the spatial variations of the magnetic field intensity and the electron number density. A technique for diagnosing peak number density is developed from the observed second harmonic power characteristics.     

Energetic electron and ion beam generation in plasma openingswitches

In this paper, we present measurements of ion and electron flows in a nanosecond plasma opening switch (NPOS) and a microsecond plasma opening switch (MPOS), performed using charge collectors. In both experiments, an electron flow toward the anode, followed by an ion flow, were observed to propagate downstream toward the load side of the plasma during the plasma opening switch (POS) conduction. In the MPOS, ion acceleration was observed to propagate axially through the entire plasma. These results are in satisfactory agreement with the predictions of the electron magnetohydrodynamics (EHMD) theory and the results of fluid and particle-in-cell (PIC) code simulations. At the beginning of the POS opening, a high-current density (≈2 kA/cm²) short-duration (10-30 ns) axial ion flow downstream toward the load was observed in both experiments, with an electron beam in front of it. These ions are accelerated at the load side of the plasma and are accompanied by comoving electrons. In the NPOS, the ion energy reaches 1.35 MeV, whereas in the MPOS, the ion energy does not exceed 100 keV. We suggest that in the NPOS the dominant mechanism for the axial ion acceleration is collective acceleration by the space charge of the electron beam, while in the MPOS, axial ion acceleration is probably governed by the Hall field in the current carrying plasma     

Azimuthal surface waves in a magnetized plasma

A theoretical analysis is made of the dispersion properties of surface waves propagating along the azimuth in magnetized cylindrical plasma waveguides. It is shown that surface oscillations of the ion component may propagate in these waveguides. Zh. Tekh. Fiz. 68, 25–28 (December 1998)     

Spontaneous formation of a plasma hole in a rotating magnetized plasma: a giant burgers vortex in a compressible fluid

Spontaneous formation of a cylindrical density cavity, or "plasma hole," has been observed in a rotating magnetized plasma. Density of the plasma hole is one-tenth of that of ambient plasma and is bounded by a steep transition layer of the order of several ion Larmor radii. The flow velocity field associated with the plasma hole is experimentally determined, exhibiting a monopole vortical structure. It is found that the vorticity distribution is localized near the center of the hole and is identified as a Burgers vortex. This is the first experimental observation of a Burgers vortex in a plasma.