Driving sudden current and voltage in expanding and compressing plasma

P. F. Schmit, N. J. Fisch

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

8 Scopus citations

Abstract

A magnetized plasma preseeded with an initially undamped Langmuir wave is shown to transition suddenly to a collisionless damping regime upon expansion of the plasma perpendicular to the background magnetic field. The resulting anisotropic fast-particle distribution then leads to an electrical current and dc voltage induction. The current drive efficiency of this effect in nonstationary plasmas is shown to depend on the rate of expansion of the plasma, the time-varying collisionality, and the plasma L/R time. Subsequent recompression of the plasma enhances this current drive effect by reducing further the collision rate of the current-carrying electrons.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number215003
JournalPhysical review letters
Volume108
Issue number21
DOIs
StatePublished - May 23 2012

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Physics and Astronomy(all)

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