Analysis of wave-particle interactions in a beam plasma system
Abstract
Several mechanisms were investigated to explain the saturation of the beam plasma instability and the simultaneous broadening of the beam energy distribution function for the case where the beam is cold and weak, and the plasma is cold and collision dominated. One mechanism involves the trapping of the beam in a single spatially growing wave. A set of dynamic equations are integrated numerically. The inclusion of collisions produces several new features: the wave slows down in the saturation region and part of the beam (20-40%) remains untrapped. An estimate of the importance of collisions between trapped particles using a moment approach shows that the effect of such collisions is negligible. A second mechanism considers the thermalization of the beam by its interaction with random, spatially growing waves. Saturation is achieved when the beam is heated sufficiently, through a process called collisional quenching.
- Publication:
-
Ph.D. Thesis
- Pub Date:
- 1974
- Bibcode:
- 1974PhDT........18W
- Keywords:
-
- Cold Plasmas;
- Magnetohydrodynamic Stability;
- Particle Interactions;
- Wave Interaction;
- Collisional Plasmas;
- Electric Fields;
- Thermalization (Energy Absorption);
- Trapped Particles;
- Plasma Physics