Scaling of spoke rotation frequency within a Penning discharge
Abstract
A rotating plasma spoke is shown to develop in two-dimensional full-sized kinetic simulations of a Penning discharge cross-section. Electron cross-field transport within the discharge is highly anomalous and correlates strongly with the spoke phase. Similarity between collisional and collisionless simulations demonstrates that ionization is not necessary for spoke formation. Parameter scans with discharge current Id, applied magnetic field strength B, and ion mass mi show that the spoke frequency scales with eErLn/mi, where Er is the radial electric field, Ln is the gradient length scale, and e is the fundamental charge. This scaling suggests that the spoke may develop as a non-linear phase of the collisionless Simon-Hoh instability.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Pub Defense Publication
- Publication Date
- Jul 01, 2018
- Source ID
- 10.1063/1.5038733
Entities
People
- A. I. Smolyakov
- Andrew T. Powis
- Igor Kaganovich
- Johan Carlsson
- Yevgeny Raitses
Organizations
- Air Force Office of Scientific Research
- Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory
- Princeton University
- University of Saskatchewan