Stability test for strongly inhomogenous plasmas through Nyquist diagrams
Abstract
The stability of inhomogeneous plasma equilibria in the water bag approximation is discussed by means of Nyquist diagrams. A function suitable for a Nyquist diagram is constructed, and the method is applied to demonstrate the instability of the electron sheath configuration. The behavior of the Nyquist diagram shows directly that instabilities occur near multiples of the bounce frequency of the innermost sheath contour in phase space.
- Publication:
-
Physics of Fluids
- Pub Date:
- July 1974
- DOI:
- 10.1063/1.1694905
- Bibcode:
- 1974PhFl...17.1404B
- Keywords:
-
- Electron Distribution;
- Magnetohydrodynamic Stability;
- Nonuniform Plasmas;
- Nyquist Diagram;
- Plasma Sheaths;
- Complex Variables;
- Eigenvalues;
- Electron Density Profiles;
- Equilibrium Equations;
- Numerical Analysis;
- Poisson Equation;
- Plasma Physics