Current flow instability and nonlinear structures in dissipative two-fluid plasmas
Abstract
The current flow in two-fluid plasma is inherently unstable if plasma components (e.g., electrons and ions) are in different collisionality regimes. A typical example is a partially magnetized E×B plasma discharge supported by the energy released from the dissipation of the current in the direction of the applied electric field (perpendicular to the magnetic field). Ions are not magnetized so they respond to the fluctuations of the electric field ballistically on the inertial time scale. In contrast, the electron current in the direction of the applied electric field is dissipatively supported either by classical collisions or anomalous processes. The instability occurs due to a positive feedback between the electron and ion current coupled by the quasi-neutrality condition. The theory of this instability is further developed taking into account the electron inertia, finite Larmor radius and nonlinear effects. It is shown that this instability results in highly nonlinear quasi-coherent structures resembling breathing mode oscillations in Hall thrusters.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Pub Defense Publication
- Publication Date
- Dec 13, 2017
- Source ID
- 10.1063/1.5017521
Entities
People
- A. I. Smolyakov
- I. D. Kaganovich
- Ivan Romadanov
- M. V. Umansky
- Oleksandr Chapurin
- Oleksandr Koshkarov
- Yevgeny Raitses
Organizations
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
- Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council
- Princeton University
- United States Air Force
- University of Saskatchewan