Characteristics of electron cyclotron waves creating field-aligned and transverse plasma-potential structures

Characteristics of electromagnetic waves of azimuthal mode number m = ±1 are investigated experimentally, analytically and numerically when the waves triggering the field-aligned and transverse plasma-potential structure modification near an electron cyclotron resonance (ECR) point are injected into an inhomogeneously magnetized plasma with high-speed ion flow. The waves of m = +1 and −1 modes generate an electric double layer near the ECR point at the radially central and peripheral areas of the plasma column, respectively, and the transverse electric fields are consequently formed. At these areas the waves have a right-handed polarization and are absorbed through the ECR mechanism, where the experimental and analytical results do show the polarization reversal along the radial axis. The numerical results by plasma analysis by finite element method (FEM)/wave analysis by FEM (PAF/WF) code show that the wave-absorption area is localized at the radially central and peripheral areas for m = +1 and −1 mode waves, respectively, being consistent with the experimental and analytical ones.

[1]  T. Fujiwara,et al.  Observation of weakly and strongly diverging ion beams in a magnetically expanding plasma , 2009 .

[2]  H. Yamada,et al.  Ion acceleration in a solenoid-free plasma expanded by permanent magnets , 2008 .

[3]  Kazunori Takahashi,et al.  Double layer created by electron cyclotron resonance heating in an inhomogeneously magnetized plasma with high-speed ion flow , 2008 .

[4]  Michael D. West,et al.  Testing a Helicon Double Layer Thruster Immersed in a Space-Simulation Chamber , 2008 .

[5]  Kazunori Takahashi,et al.  Field-aligned and transverse plasma-potential structures induced by electron cyclotron waves , 2007 .

[6]  C. Charles,et al.  Measurement of the energy distribution of trapped and free electrons in a current-free double layer , 2007 .

[7]  C. Charles,et al.  The magnetic-field-induced transition from an expanding plasma to a double layer containing expanding plasma , 2007 .

[8]  C. Charles,et al.  A review of recent laboratory double layer experiments , 2007 .

[9]  R. Hatakeyama,et al.  Development of a low temperature plasma source providing ion flow energy control , 2006 .

[10]  Kazunori Takahashi,et al.  Simultaneous control of ion flow energy and electron temperature in magnetized plasmas , 2006 .

[11]  Kazunori Takahashi,et al.  Effects of polarization reversal on localized-absorption characteristics of electron cyclotron wave in bounded plasmas , 2005 .

[12]  R. Hatakeyama,et al.  Polarization-reversal-induced damping of left-hand polarized wave on electron cyclotron resonance. , 2005, Physical review letters.

[13]  T. Kaneko,et al.  Sheared Flow Excitation and Suppression of Electrostatic Instabilities in Laboratory Collisionless Magnetoplasmas , 2004 .

[14]  D. Swanson.  Plasma Waves (2nd edition) , 2003 .

[15]  Y. Tatematsu,et al.  Extended consolidation of scaling laws of potential formation and effects covering the representative Tandem mirror operations in GAMMA 10 , 2003 .

[16]  F. Mozer,et al.  Parallel electric fields in the upward current region of the aurora: Indirect and direct observations , 2002 .

[17]  M. Goldman,et al.  Direct observation of localized parallel electric fields in a space plasma. , 2001, Physical review letters.

[18]  T. Kaneko,et al.  Potential Structure Modified by Electron Cyclotron Resonance in a Plasma Flow along Magnetic Field Lines with Mirror Configuration , 1998 .

[19]  Burrell,et al.  Role of edge electric field and poloidal rotation in the L-H transition. , 1990, Physical review letters.

[20]  Nakashima,et al.  Thermal barrier formation and plasma confinement in the axisymmetrized tandem mirror GAMMA 10. , 1985, Physical review letters.

[21]  S. Iizuka,et al.  Ultrastrong stationary double layers in a nondischarge magnetoplasma , 1981 .

[22]  Yoshiharu Nakamura,et al.  V-Shaped Double Layers Formed by Ion Beam Reflection , 1980 .

[23]  M. Hudson,et al.  Observations of paired electrostatic shocks in the polar magnetosphere , 1977 .

[24]  A. Wong,et al.  Formation of potential double layers in plasmas , 1976 .