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A 100 KW Class Applied-field Magnetoplasmadynamic Thruster
Published on: December 22, 2018
Wave-breaking phenomena in a relativistic magnetized plasma
Chandan Maity1, Anwesa Sarkar, Padma Kant Shukla
1Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics, 1/AF Bidhannagar, Kolkata 700 064, India.
Physical Review Letters
|June 11, 2013
Summary
Relativistic upper-hybrid oscillations break in finite time due to electron mass variations, causing density bursts. This wave-breaking phenomenon is crucial for understanding electron energization and plasma heating.
Area of Science:
- Plasma Physics
- Wave Phenomena
- Relativistic Electrodynamics
Background:
- Relativistic effects are crucial in high-energy plasma environments.
- Upper-hybrid oscillations are fundamental plasma waves.
- Wave-breaking is a key nonlinear process in wave dynamics.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate the wave-breaking of relativistic upper-hybrid oscillations.
- Understand the role of relativistic electron mass variations.
- Explore implications for plasma particle energization and heating.
Main Methods:
- Utilized electron continuity and relativistic momentum equations.
- Incorporated Maxwell's equations for electromagnetic fields.
- Employed Lagrangian coordinates for exact nonstationary solutions.
Main Results:
- Discovered finite-time bursts in electron density.
- Linked density bursts to relativistic electron mass variations.
- Identified phase mixing and breaking of relativistic UH oscillations.
Conclusions:
- Relativistic UH wave-breaking is a finite-time process.
- Electron mass variation drives wave breaking and density bursts.
- This phenomenon is relevant to electron energization and plasma heating.
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