Direct-current-like Phase Space Manipulation Using Chirped Alternating Current Fields
Authors: P.F. Schmit and N.J. Fisch
Abstract:
Waves in plasmas can accelerate particles that are resonant with the wave. A dc electric field also accelerates particles, but without a resonance discrimination, which makes the acceleration mechanism profoundly different. Whereas wave-particle acceleration mechanisms have been widely discussed in the literature, this work discusses the direct analogy between wave acceleration and dc field acceleration in a particular parameter regime explored in previous works. Apart from the academic interest of this correspondence, there may be practical advantages in using waves to mimic dc electric fields, for example, in driving plasma current with high efficiency.
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Submitted to: Physics of Plasmas (June 2009)
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Download PPPL-4489 (pdf 609 KB 10 pp)
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