On deformation of electron holes in phase space

This Letter shows that for particularly shaped background particle distributions momentum exchange between phase space holes and the distribution causes acceleration of the holes along the magnetic field. In the particular case of a non-symmetric ring distribution (ring with loss cone) this acceleration is nonuniform in phase space being weaker at larger perpendicular velocities thus causing deformation of the hole in phase space.Comment: Original MS in EPL style, 1 Figur

Width-amplitude relation of Bernstein-Greene-Kruskal solitary waves

Inequality width-amplitude relations for three-dimensional Bernstein-Greene-Kruskal solitary waves are derived for magnetized plasmas. Criteria for neglecting effects of nonzero cyclotron radius are obtained. We emphasize that the form of the solitary potential is not tightly constrained, and the amplitude and widths of the potential are constrained by inequalities. The existence of a continuous range of allowed sizes and shapes for these waves makes them easily accessible. We propose that these solitary waves can be spontaneously generated in turbulence or thermal fluctuations. We expect that the high excitation probability of these waves should alter the bulk properties of the plasma medium such as electrical resistivity and thermal conductivity.Comment: 5 pages, 2 figure

Observations of Solitary Structures in a Magnetized, Plasma Loaded Waveguide

Two types of solitary structure were investigated experimentally and numerically in a magnetized, plasma-loaded waveguide. One was identified as an ordinary KdV soliton and its properties were investigated with particular attention to the damping by resonant particles. The other type of pulse was identified as a purely kinetic phenomenon being associated with a vortex in phase space. © 1979 IOP Publishing Ltd

Stability of a stationary double layer

Electrostatic oscillations in a stationary beam double layer are studied in the hydrodynamic approximation. An analysis of the solutions to the linearized equations for perturbations shows that the double layer in an unbounded plasma may be subject only to convective instability, in which case the perturbations localized inside the region of the potential jump escape from the plasma without distorting the steady field structure. The double layer in a bounded plasma is investigated numerically by a particle-in-cell method. It is established that, as is the case in the Pierce system, the governing role in the stability of the double layer is played by the field of the charges induced on the surfaces of the conducting electrodes. © 2002 MAIK "Nauka/Interperiodica"