Fast-Wave Resonances near the Ion Cyclotron Frequency

Wave damping has been observed for the fast (compressional) wave at frequencies that are about 10 percent above the second and third harmonics of the ion cyclotron frequency. Preliminary calculations indicate that this shift is the result of collisions. The waves were launched by a 1-turn loop around the cylindrical plasma column and damped in a magnetic beach. The highly ionized hydrogen or deuterium plasma had an average temperature of 2 eV and an average density of about 2.5 × 1020 m-3.