Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 31, 2026
11:51
Visually Based Characterization of the Incipient Particle Motion in Regular Substrates: From Laminar to Turbulent Conditions
Published on: February 22, 2018
Upgrades to the Auburn linear experiment for instability studies
A C Eadon1, E Tejero, A DuBois
1Physics Department, Auburn University, Alabama 36849-5311, USA. eadonac@tigermail.auburn.edu
The Review of Scientific Instruments
|July 5, 2011
Summary
The Auburn linear experiment for instability studies (ALEXIS) investigates non-uniform E × B drifts in magnetized plasma. Recent upgrades enhance its plasma source, gas management, and diagnostics for advanced instability research.
Area of Science:
- Laboratory plasma physics
- Magnetized plasma dynamics
- Instability research
Background:
- Investigating plasma instabilities is crucial for understanding fusion energy and astrophysical phenomena.
- Spatially non-uniform E × B drifts are hypothesized to play a significant role in plasma turbulence and transport.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of spatially non-uniform E × B drifts in a magnetized cylindrical plasma column.
- To detail recent upgrades to the Auburn linear experiment for instability studies (ALEXIS) device.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing a magnetized cylindrical plasma column.
- Implementing upgrades to the plasma source for improved plasma generation.
- Enhancing gas management systems for precise control.
- Expanding the diagnostic suite for comprehensive data acquisition.
Main Results:
- The upgraded ALEXIS device provides a more robust platform for studying plasma instabilities.
- Improvements facilitate detailed examination of E × B drift effects.
- Enhanced diagnostics enable higher fidelity measurements of plasma parameters.
Conclusions:
- The recent upgrades position ALEXIS as a key facility for advancing the understanding of plasma instabilities.
- The enhanced capabilities will enable more precise investigations into drift-driven phenomena.
Related Concept Videos
01:24Pole and System Stability
The transfer function is a fundamental concept representing the ratio of two polynomials. The numerator and denominator encapsulate the system's dynamics. The zeros and poles of this transfer function are critical in determining the system's behavior and stability.
Simple poles are unique roots of the denominator polynomial. Each simple pole corresponds to a distinct solution to the system's characteristic equation, typically resulting in exponential decay terms in the system's response.
Simple poles are unique roots of the denominator polynomial. Each simple pole corresponds to a distinct solution to the system's characteristic equation, typically resulting in exponential decay terms in the system's response.
02:17Microtubule Instability
Microtubules are hollow cylindrical filaments having a diameter of approximately 25 nm and a length that varies from 200 nm to 25 μm. GTP-bound tubulin subunits form αβ-heterodimers for microtubule assembly. These core building blocks interact longitudinally, polymerizing into protofilaments. The protofilaments then interact with one another through lateral bonding forces to form stable cylindrical microtubules. These cylindrical filaments are dynamic as they undergo repeated assembly and...
01:28Stability
The time response of a linear time-invariant (LTI) system can be divided into transient and steady-state responses. The transient response represents the system's initial reaction to a change in input and diminishes to zero over time. In contrast, the steady-state response is the behavior that persists after the transient effects have faded.
The stability of an LTI system is determined by the roots of its characteristic equation, known as poles. A system is stable if it produces a bounded...
The stability of an LTI system is determined by the roots of its characteristic equation, known as poles. A system is stable if it produces a bounded...