A Self Consistent Theory of the Formation of Non-Thermal Ion Tails in the Ion Acoustic Instability.
Abstract
The rate at which ions are transported from the body to the non-thermal tail of the distribution function during the nonlinear stage of the ion acoustic instability is calculated self-consistently. The nonlinear stage is characterized by a very small growth rate and a tail whose population increases slowly in time. The calculation is done by conserving the energy and momentum of ions, electrons and electrostatic fields in the linear and non-linear regime. These two conservation laws give rise to two equations for growth rate and phase velocity. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 1973
- Accession Number
- AD0772090
Entities
People
- Robert W. Flynn
- Wallace M. Manheimer
Organizations
- United States Naval Research Laboratory