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Gradient Equilibria
Non-neutral plasmas are normally confined in constant axial magnetic field. Sometimes, however the plasma is subjected to a field with an axial gradient. The theory of plasmas in a gradient predicts several interesting features: In cold, dense plasmas the density must scale with the magnetic field strength; the electrostatic potential varies along the field lines to make this density variation possible. Further, the plasma profile does not follow the magnetic field lines; the plasma radius in the high-field region of the magnetic mirror is smaller than would be obtained by simply following the field lines from the plasma's low-field radial edge into the high-field region. Also, electrons are trapped both in the high-field region and low-field region. Our experimental observations confirm several aspects of our theory. The density scaling with magnetic field is linear for cold plasmas; for hot, low-density plasmas the density is nearly independent of the magnetic field strength, as one expects in the case of a neutral plasma in a magnetic mirror. As predicted, the plasma profile does not follow the field lines. All of this has implications for the stability of the m=1 diocotron mode in traps with an axial gradient in the magnetic field. We find that this mode is surprisingly long-lived despite the gradient, surviving through over 1000 cycles.
For dense, cold non-neutral plasmas:
- Density proportional to magnetic field.
- Potential varies along field lines.
- Outer plasma radius necks down more sharply than the field lines.
- Particles trapped in both the low and high field ends.
For tenuous, hot non-neutral plasmas:
(Similar to a neutral plasmas)
- Density independent of magnetic field.
- Potential varies along field lines.
- Outer plasma radius follows the field lines.
- Particles trapped in the low field end only.
For example, for a plasma held in a magnetic field that decrease linearly as shown below:
The dense, cold equilibria looks like this:
While the hot, tenuous equilibria looks like this:
More information can be found in this poster: GradientPoster.PDF
Author: Joel Fajans