Early Time Debris Structuring Due to the Ion-Ion Filamentation Instability
Abstract
Linear theory shows that when a plasma is created with a drift relative to an ambient plasma across a magnetic field, a robust electromagnetic instability is excited, if the drift speed exceeds the local Alfven velocity Vo > Va. Simulations of this ion-ion filamentation instability in a homogeneous system show that large amplitude waves with deltaB/Bo > 1 develop nonlinearly, giving rise to large density clumping due to the nongyrotropic nature of the ion ion velocity distribution. In this report hybrid simulations are performed to examine the consequences of the ion ion filamentation instability for H.A.N.E. applications. Uniform periodic simulations are considered as well as simulations consisting of a finite sized debris plasma interacting with a background plasma. In the later case the filamentation instability can be examined in the realistic situation where a high Mach number collisionless shock is generated. Of particular interest is whether the ion ion filamentation instability forms long lasting structure (on a time scale greater than the shock formation time) in the debris piston. Early time structuring, Plasma instabilities, Numerical simulations.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 01, 1989
- Accession Number
- ADA205722
Entities
People
- D. Winske
- Varghese A. Thomas
Organizations
- Los Alamos National Laboratory