STABILITY OF AN IRRADIATED PLASMA SLAB UNDER CRITICAL POWER LOADING,

Abstract

The effects of an upper bound on the ionization frequency for a plasma slab irradiated with intense microwave power are investigated using a Chapman-function model. A quadrature algorithm is developed for the numerical computation of exact steady-state electron density profiles. The results for both stable and unstable profiles are analyzed in terms of a stability condition involving the deposition rate of microwave power. The dynamics of the electron distribution within the slab is treated approximately by constraining the density profiles to a sinusoidal form. A dynamical interpretation of stability then emerges from the approximate electron gain-loss equation. The stability problem is also formulated graphically by the introduction of a potential-like function. Steady-state characteristic curves for the plasma slab are calculated using sinusoidal density profiles; typical contours of constant net electron gain rate are similarly presented. (Author)

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Sep 01, 1964
Accession Number
AD0607435

Entities

People

  • E. T. Florance
  • J. I. F. King
  • R. V. Sillars

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Algorithms
  • Charged Particles
  • Computations
  • Dynamics
  • Electron Density
  • Electrons
  • Elementary Fermions
  • Elementary Particles
  • Equations
  • Fermions
  • Frequency
  • Ionization
  • Leptons
  • Mathematical Analysis
  • Microwaves
  • Stability Conditions
  • Steady State

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Atmospheric Science / Meteorology, specifically Wind Wave Turbulence.
  • Calculus or Mathematical Analysis
  • Pulsed Power and Plasma Physics.

Technology Areas

  • Microelectronics