Stirring unmagnetized plasma

C. Collins, N. Katz, J. Wallace, J. Jara-Almonte, I. Reese, E. Zweibel, C. B. Forest

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

37 Scopus citations

Abstract

A new concept for spinning unmagnetized plasma is demonstrated experimentally. Plasma is confined by an axisymmetric multicusp magnetic field and biased cathodes are used to drive currents and impart a torque in the magnetized edge. Measurements show that flow viscously couples momentum from the magnetized edge (where the plasma viscosity is small) into the unmagnetized core (where the viscosity is large) and that the core rotates as a solid body. To be effective, collisional viscosity must overcome the ion-neutral drag due to charge-exchange collisions.

Original languageEnglish
Article number115001
JournalPhysical Review Letters
Volume108
Issue number11
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 12 2012
Externally publishedYes

Funding

FundersFunder number
National Science Foundation1211937

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