Destabilization of Hydromagnetic Drift-Alfven Waves in a Finite Pressure Collisional Plasma.
Abstract
In a finite beta plasma, where the plasma pressure is an appreciable fraction of the confining magnetic field energy-density, density-gradient driven drift waves couple with Alfven waves when the phase velocities of the two waves become comparable. The resulting hydromagnetic drift-Alfven waves separate into two branches - a drift mode and an Alfven mode, with both modes exhibiting magnetic field and localized density fluctuations near the coupling point. The dispersion relation of the collisional drift-Alfven wave is derived by using a slab-geometry, two-fluid model which includes finite beta, electron-ion collisions, ion-ion collisions, finite ion larmar radius, temperature fluctuations, and an axial electron current. A hydromagnetic drift mode is found to be unstable in a moderately dense plasma. A localized 'Alfven' mode is destabilized only with the passage of an axial current along the plasma column.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Nov 01, 1974
- Accession Number
- ADA006223
Entities
People
- J. T. Tang
Organizations
- University of California, Los Angeles