Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 3, 2026

AC Electrokinetic Phenomena Generated by Microelectrode Structures
Published on: July 28, 2008
Ion heating with beating electrostatic waves
1Electric Propulsion and Plasma Dynamics Laboratory (EPPDyL), Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544, USA.
Abstract:
The nonlinear interaction of a magnetized ion with two beating electrostatic waves (BEW) whose frequencies differ by a cyclotron harmonic can lead, under some conditions [Phys. Rev. E 69, 046402 (2004)], to vigorous acceleration for an ion with arbitrarily low initial velocity. When applied to an ensemble of ions, this mechanism promises enhanced heating over single electrostatic wave (SEW) heating for comparable wave energy densities. The extension of single ion acceleration to heating (SEWH and BEWH) of an ensemble of initially thermalized ions was carried out to compare the processes. Using a numerical solution of the Vlasov equation as a guideline, an analytical expression for the heating level was derived with Lie transforms and was used to show BEWH's superiority over all parameter space.
Related Concept Videos
Generating Electromagnetic Radiations
Van de Graaff Generator
Van de Graaff uses both smooth and pointed surfaces, conductors, and insulators to generate large static charges and, hence, large voltages. A substantial excess charge can be deposited on the sphere because it moves...
Standing Waves in a Cavity
Electromagnetic Waves
Eddy Currents
Other major applications of eddy currents appear in metal detectors and the braking systems of trains and roller...
Charging Conductors By Induction
Generally, conductors like metals do not allow any excess charge to be present on them. Any excess charge added to metals easily flows away, for example, when a metal is placed on the Earth. This process is called earthing.
However, conductors can be charged by a process called induction. For example, consider charging a...

