Parametric Instability of the Sheath Plasma Resonance.
Abstract
A large amplitude rf pump signal is applied to a wire antenna in a magnetic field free plasma. When the pump frequency (omega sub 0) corresponds to twice the sheath-plasma resonance frequency (omega sub r), and the pump amplitude exceeds a threshold value, spontaneous excitation of the signal at (omega sub r) = (omega sub 0)/2 is observed. The process is explained as a periodic variation of the sheath thickness causing the sheath-plasma resonance to become parametrically unstable. The rf field pressure can induce density relaxation oscillations near the ion plasma frequency which are observed to modulate the instability spectrum strongly.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 01, 1975
- Accession Number
- ADA006489
Entities
People
- A. Y. Wong
- H. C. Kim
- R. Stenzel
Organizations
- University of California, Los Angeles