On Plasma Theory and Simulation.

Abstract

Topics include: (1) Electron Bernstein wave investigations -- Simulations of driving a plasma with these waves, just off perpendicular, has begun, obtaining the predicted damping rate. The objectives are understanding, with potential application to current drive or heating. (2) Simulation of plasma-sheath region, including ion reflection -- Using ion reflection at a wall of 70% causes a larger drop in wall sheath potential and an increase in the field at the wall. Reflection here means re-emission, i.e., a return as half-Maxwellian. (3) Single ended plasma device, general behavior dc or ac -- This paper describes simulations with various dc biases, showing both stable states (floating, negative bias) and unstable (moderate positive bias) with periodic current disruptions (relaxation oscillations) for both electron and ion rich sources. (4) Single ended plasma device, usnstable states -- This paper is more detail of the instabilities in showing J(t) and phase space for the ion-rich instability. (5) Corrections to time-dependent Q-machine equilibria -- In the ion-rich source, negatively biased collector simulations, the classical analysis has an electron hole at the source. However, this hole is filled in the simulations, even when the number of particles is made very large (reducing fluctuations). The corresponding filled-hole analysis fits the measured potentials. and (6) Multifluid derivation of the Alfven ion-cyclotron linear dispersion relation.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jun 30, 1984
Accession Number
ADA156747

Entities

People

  • Charles K. Birdsall

Organizations

  • University of California, Berkeley

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Advanced Electronics
  • Energy and Power Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Charged Particles
  • Computer Simulations
  • Dispersion Relations
  • Distribution Functions
  • Electron Emission
  • Electrons
  • Emission
  • Equations
  • Fluids
  • Frequency
  • Magnetic Fields
  • Molecular Dynamics
  • Physics
  • Plasma Sheaths
  • Plasmonic Devices
  • Simulations
  • Voltage

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Plasma Physics / Magnetohydrodynamics
  • Plasma Physics.

Technology Areas

  • Microelectronics
  • Space
  • Space - Hall-Effect Thruster