Destabilization of the m=1 diocotron mode in non-neutral plasmas

  • John M. Finn
  • , Diego Sel-Castillo-Negrete
  • , Daniel C. Barnes

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    15 Scopus citations

    Abstract

    The theory for a Penning-Malmberg trap predicts m=1 diocotron stability. However, experiments with hollow profiles show robust exponential growth. We propose a new mechanism of destabilization of this mode, involving parallel compression due to end curvature. The results are in good agreement with the experiments. The resulting modified drift-Poisson equations are analogous to the geophysical shallow water equations, and conservation of line integrated density corresponds to that of potential vorticity. This analogy predicts Rossby waves in non-neutral plasmas and an m=1 instability in fluids.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)2401-2404
    Number of pages4
    JournalPhysical Review Letters
    Volume84
    Issue number11
    DOIs
    StatePublished - 2000

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