MODE SYNCHRONIZATION PHENOMENA IN UNIVERSAL PLASMA INSTABILITIES.

Abstract

A nonlinear mechanism is indicated by which discrete modes in a bounded unstable plasma can give rise to a quasi-continuous turbulence spectrum. The transition from the discrete spectrum to the turbulence spectrum occurs at a critical value of the so-called locking parameter. A given mode is frequency-modulated by a 'periodic pulling' effect when the mode is at the threshold for locking onto a perturbation whose frequency is close to the unperturbed mode frequency. In the present case the perturbation derives from harmonics of lower frequency modes. The broad spectrum associated with the frequency modulated mode provides an effective means for taking the energy contained in the discrete mode and distributing it over a large number of sidebands arranged asymmetrically around the original mode frequency. (Author)

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 1967
Accession Number
AD0651092

Entities

People

  • Herbert Lashinsky

Organizations

  • University of Maryland

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Frequency
  • Frequency Bands
  • Harmonics
  • Instability
  • Mathematics
  • Perturbations
  • Plasma Instabilities
  • Sidebands
  • Spectra
  • Transitions
  • Turbulence

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Atmospheric Science / Meteorology, specifically Wind Wave Turbulence.
  • Optical Physics and Photonics.
  • Plasma Physics / Magnetohydrodynamics