Alfvénic oscillations of the electron distribution function: Linear theory and experimental measurements

J. W.R. Schroeder; F. Skiff; G. G. Howes; C. A. Kletzing; T. A. Carter; S. Dorfman

doi:10.1063/1.4936466

Alfvénic oscillations of the electron distribution function: Linear theory and experimental measurements

J. W.R. Schroeder, F. Skiff, G. G. Howes, C. A. Kletzing, T. A. Carter, S. Dorfman

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › peer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

Wave propagation can be an accurate method for determining material properties. High frequency whistler mode waves (0.7 < ω/Omega;_ce| > 1) in an overdense plasma (ω_pe > |Ω_ce|) are damped primarily by Doppler-shifted electron cyclotron resonance. A kinetic description of whistler mode propagation parallel to the background magnetic field shows that damping is proportional to the parallel electron distribution function. This property enables an experimental determination of the parallel electron distribution function using a measurement of whistler mode wave absorption. The whistler mode wave absorption diagnostic uses this technique on UCLA's Large Plasma Device (LaPD) to measure the distribution of high energy electrons (5-10v_te) with 0.1% precision. The accuracy is limited by systematic effects that need to be considered carefully. Ongoing research uses this diagnostic to investigate the effect of inertial Alfvén waves on the electron distribution function. Results presented here verify experimentally the linear effects of inertial Alfvén waves on the reduced electron distribution function, a necessary step before nonlinear physics can be tested. Ongoing experiments with the whistler mode wave absorption diagnostic are making progress toward the first direct detection of electrons nonlinearly accelerated by inertial Alfvén waves, a process believed to play an important role in auroral generation.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Radio Frequency Power in Plasmas
Subtitle of host publication	Proceedings of the 21St Topical Conference
Editors	Robert I. Pinsker
Publisher	American Institute of Physics Inc.
ISBN (Electronic)	9780735413368
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4936466
State	Published - Dec 10 2015
Externally published	Yes
Event	21st Topical Conference on Radiofrequency Power in Plasmas - Lake Arrowhead, United States Duration: Apr 27 2015 → Apr 29 2015

Publication series

Name	AIP Conference Proceedings
Volume	1689
ISSN (Print)	0094-243X
ISSN (Electronic)	1551-7616

Conference

Conference	21st Topical Conference on Radiofrequency Power in Plasmas
Country/Territory	United States
City	Lake Arrowhead
Period	04/27/15 → 04/29/15

Access to Document

10.1063/1.4936466

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Schroeder, J. W. R., Skiff, F., Howes, G. G., Kletzing, C. A., Carter, T. A., & Dorfman, S. (2015). Alfvénic oscillations of the electron distribution function: Linear theory and experimental measurements. In R. I. Pinsker (Ed.), Radio Frequency Power in Plasmas: Proceedings of the 21St Topical Conference Article 030001 (AIP Conference Proceedings; Vol. 1689). American Institute of Physics Inc.. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4936466

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title = "Alfv{\'e}nic oscillations of the electron distribution function: Linear theory and experimental measurements",

abstract = "Wave propagation can be an accurate method for determining material properties. High frequency whistler mode waves (0.7 < ω/Omega;ce| > 1) in an overdense plasma (ωpe > |Ωce|) are damped primarily by Doppler-shifted electron cyclotron resonance. A kinetic description of whistler mode propagation parallel to the background magnetic field shows that damping is proportional to the parallel electron distribution function. This property enables an experimental determination of the parallel electron distribution function using a measurement of whistler mode wave absorption. The whistler mode wave absorption diagnostic uses this technique on UCLA's Large Plasma Device (LaPD) to measure the distribution of high energy electrons (5-10vte) with 0.1% precision. The accuracy is limited by systematic effects that need to be considered carefully. Ongoing research uses this diagnostic to investigate the effect of inertial Alfv{\'e}n waves on the electron distribution function. Results presented here verify experimentally the linear effects of inertial Alfv{\'e}n waves on the reduced electron distribution function, a necessary step before nonlinear physics can be tested. Ongoing experiments with the whistler mode wave absorption diagnostic are making progress toward the first direct detection of electrons nonlinearly accelerated by inertial Alfv{\'e}n waves, a process believed to play an important role in auroral generation.",

author = "Schroeder, {J. W.R.} and F. Skiff and Howes, {G. G.} and Kletzing, {C. A.} and Carter, {T. A.} and S. Dorfman",

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doi = "10.1063/1.4936466",

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Schroeder, JWR, Skiff, F, Howes, GG, Kletzing, CA, Carter, TA & Dorfman, S 2015, Alfvénic oscillations of the electron distribution function: Linear theory and experimental measurements. in RI Pinsker (ed.), Radio Frequency Power in Plasmas: Proceedings of the 21St Topical Conference., 030001, AIP Conference Proceedings, vol. 1689, American Institute of Physics Inc., 21st Topical Conference on Radiofrequency Power in Plasmas, Lake Arrowhead, United States, 04/27/15. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4936466

Alfvénic oscillations of the electron distribution function: Linear theory and experimental measurements. / Schroeder, J. W.R.; Skiff, F.; Howes, G. G. et al.
Radio Frequency Power in Plasmas: Proceedings of the 21St Topical Conference. ed. / Robert I. Pinsker. American Institute of Physics Inc., 2015. 030001 (AIP Conference Proceedings; Vol. 1689).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › peer-review

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AU - Schroeder, J. W.R.

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AU - Howes, G. G.

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AU - Carter, T. A.

AU - Dorfman, S.

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N2 - Wave propagation can be an accurate method for determining material properties. High frequency whistler mode waves (0.7 < ω/Omega;ce| > 1) in an overdense plasma (ωpe > |Ωce|) are damped primarily by Doppler-shifted electron cyclotron resonance. A kinetic description of whistler mode propagation parallel to the background magnetic field shows that damping is proportional to the parallel electron distribution function. This property enables an experimental determination of the parallel electron distribution function using a measurement of whistler mode wave absorption. The whistler mode wave absorption diagnostic uses this technique on UCLA's Large Plasma Device (LaPD) to measure the distribution of high energy electrons (5-10vte) with 0.1% precision. The accuracy is limited by systematic effects that need to be considered carefully. Ongoing research uses this diagnostic to investigate the effect of inertial Alfvén waves on the electron distribution function. Results presented here verify experimentally the linear effects of inertial Alfvén waves on the reduced electron distribution function, a necessary step before nonlinear physics can be tested. Ongoing experiments with the whistler mode wave absorption diagnostic are making progress toward the first direct detection of electrons nonlinearly accelerated by inertial Alfvén waves, a process believed to play an important role in auroral generation.

AB - Wave propagation can be an accurate method for determining material properties. High frequency whistler mode waves (0.7 < ω/Omega;ce| > 1) in an overdense plasma (ωpe > |Ωce|) are damped primarily by Doppler-shifted electron cyclotron resonance. A kinetic description of whistler mode propagation parallel to the background magnetic field shows that damping is proportional to the parallel electron distribution function. This property enables an experimental determination of the parallel electron distribution function using a measurement of whistler mode wave absorption. The whistler mode wave absorption diagnostic uses this technique on UCLA's Large Plasma Device (LaPD) to measure the distribution of high energy electrons (5-10vte) with 0.1% precision. The accuracy is limited by systematic effects that need to be considered carefully. Ongoing research uses this diagnostic to investigate the effect of inertial Alfvén waves on the electron distribution function. Results presented here verify experimentally the linear effects of inertial Alfvén waves on the reduced electron distribution function, a necessary step before nonlinear physics can be tested. Ongoing experiments with the whistler mode wave absorption diagnostic are making progress toward the first direct detection of electrons nonlinearly accelerated by inertial Alfvén waves, a process believed to play an important role in auroral generation.

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M3 - Conference contribution

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A2 - Pinsker, Robert I.

PB - American Institute of Physics Inc.

Y2 - 27 April 2015 through 29 April 2015

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Schroeder JWR, Skiff F, Howes GG, Kletzing CA, Carter TA, Dorfman S. Alfvénic oscillations of the electron distribution function: Linear theory and experimental measurements. In Pinsker RI, editor, Radio Frequency Power in Plasmas: Proceedings of the 21St Topical Conference. American Institute of Physics Inc. 2015. 030001. (AIP Conference Proceedings). doi: 10.1063/1.4936466

Alfvénic oscillations of the electron distribution function: Linear theory and experimental measurements

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