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An electron thermal instability in a resistive non-equilibrium fully ionised plasma

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 March 2009

M. G. Haines
M. G. Haines
Affiliation:
Physics Department, Imperial College, London
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Abstract

An electron thermal instability is proposed, which could explain the occurrence of the break-up of a plasma shell into separated current elements during the early history of a discharge. Inclusion of electron thermal conduction and Faraday's law leads to an optimum wavelength for growth, in good agreement with recent results on a θ pinch at NRL, Washington. Finally, the addition of ion motion leads to a modification of the stability criterion. The non-convective instability exists only at low temperature and high density; but a convective instability now appears, which persists at high temperature, and could be relevant to fusion conditions.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Plasma Physics , Volume 12 , Issue 1 , August 1974 , pp. 1 - 14
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1974

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References

REFERENCES

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