On the Spatial Stabilization of the Beam-Plasma Instability,
Abstract
It has been observed in many experiments that when a low density energetic beam of electrons is injected into a plasma, oscillations are generated which increase in amplitude as one moves away from the injection point. At larger distances these oscillations saturate and subsequently decay. There are at least three mechanisms which can be responsible for this control of the linear instability. These are, in the order of increasing nonlinearity: If the linearly unstable modes have a broad spectrum of wave numbers, delta K, then the beam may be stochastically heated as it passes into the plasma. If the unstable modes have a narrow spectrum, it is possible that the generation of harmonics might induce stabilization and decay through their interaction back on the unstable modes. It is this mode-mode coupling which is the primary subject of investigation in the present study; If the mode-mode coupling does not stabilize the system then the oscillations may grow to an amplitude which is large enough to trap the beam particles. As this trapping cuts off the beam movement over the waves, the instability is terminated. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 1971
- Accession Number
- AD0726917
Entities
People
- E. Atlee Jackson
Organizations
- University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign