Flute Instabilities during Fast Magnetic Compression of Collisionless β=1 Plasmas
Abstract
End-on framing photographs taken at the Garching 500-kV theta pinch during fast magnetic plasma compression [n0=(1.5-4)×1013 cm-3] show distinct radial filaments that are due to flute instabilities of high azimuthal-mode number. The observed wavelengths are of the order cωpi they decrease with increasing density, but no mass dependence is found. The flute instabilities are responsible for the existence of a plasma halo which surrounds the thermonuclear β=1 plasma column and has a major influence on its behavior.
- Publication:
-
Physical Review Letters
- Pub Date:
- May 1974
- DOI:
- 10.1103/PhysRevLett.32.1044
- Bibcode:
- 1974PhRvL..32.1044K