Kink Instability in Applied-Field Magneto-Plasma-Dynamic Thrusters

Zuin, M.; Cavazzana, R.; Martines, E.; Serianni, G.; Antoni, V.; Bagatin, M.; Andrenucci, Mariano; Paganucci, Fabrizio; Rossetti, P.

doi:10.1103/physrevlett.92.225003

Cited by 46 publications

(40 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…The momentum flux delivered by charged particles in plasmas and its interaction with magnetic fields have been significant subjects associated with astrophysical jets [1], magnetospheric physics [2], thermonuclear fusion devices [3], and electric propulsion systems [4]. It is essential to understand and characterize the gain or loss mechanisms of the momentum flux for clarifying the acceleration or confinement processes of charged particles in nature and in terrestrial plasma devices.…”

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confidence: 99%

Electron Diamagnetic Effect on Axial Force in an Expanding Plasma: Experiments and Theory

et al. 2011

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The axial force imparted from a magnetically expanding current-free plasma is directly measured for three different experimental configurations and compared with a two-dimensional fluid theory. The force component solely resulting from the expanding field is directly measured and identified as an axial force produced by the azimuthal current due to an electron diamagnetic drift and the radial component of the magnetic field. The experimentally measured forces are well described by the theory.

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confidence: 99%

Electron Diamagnetic Effect on Axial Force in an Expanding Plasma: Experiments and Theory

et al. 2011

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“…Flux tubes can be periodic, for instance in toroidal devices such as a tokamak. Or they can have finite length in the axial direction, such as flux tubes in the solar corona [1,2], during spheromak startup [3], Z pinches [4], plasma thrusters [5], and possibly astrophysical jets [6,7]. Those flux tubes with finite length must have an axial boundary.…”

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Transition of MHD Kink-Stability Properties between Line-Tied and Non-Line-Tied Boundary Conditions

et al. 2008

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Magnetic flux tubes or flux ropes in plasmas are important in nature and the laboratory. Axial boundary conditions strongly affect flux rope behavior, but this has never been systematically investigated. We experimentally demonstrate for the first time axial boundary conditions that are continuously varied between ideal magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) line-tied (fixed) and non-line-tied (free). In contrast with the usual interpretation that mechanical plasma motion is MHD line-tied to a conducting boundary, we constrain boundary plasma motion to cause the line-tied condition.

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“…This direct matching condition does not exist in any of the prior linear flux rope experiments. [15][16][17][18][19] The results present here also represent the first experimental identification of q a = 1 stability in a partial toroidal system. Though this lack of dependence on toroidicity is not particularly surprising given the success of the KS theory in explaining tokamak stability, it does reinforce the applicability of these results to the kink stability properties of other partial toroidal plasmas such as those found in the solar corona.…”

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confidence: 75%

Experimental verification of the Kruskal-Shafranov stability limit in line-tied partial-toroidal plasmas

Öz

Myers

et al. 2011

Physics of Plasmas

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The stability properties of partial toroidal flux ropes are studied in detail in the laboratory, motivated by ubiquitous arched magnetic structures found on the solar surface. The flux ropes studied here are magnetized arc discharges formed between two electrodes in the Magnetic Reconnection Experiment (MRX) [Yamada et al., Phys. Plasmas, 4, 1936]. The three dimensional evolution of these flux ropes is monitored by a fast visible light framing camera, while their magnetic structure is measured by a variety of internal magnetic probes. The flux ropes are consistently observed to undergo large-scale oscillations as a result of an external kink instability. Using detailed scans of the plasma current, the guide field strength, and the length of the flux rope, we show that the threshold for kink stability is governed by the Kruskal-Shafranov limit for a flux rope that is held fixed at both ends (i.e., q a = 1).

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Kink Instability in Applied-Field Magneto-Plasma-Dynamic Thrusters

Cited by 46 publications

References 11 publications

Electron Diamagnetic Effect on Axial Force in an Expanding Plasma: Experiments and Theory

Electron Diamagnetic Effect on Axial Force in an Expanding Plasma: Experiments and Theory

Transition of MHD Kink-Stability Properties between Line-Tied and Non-Line-Tied Boundary Conditions

Experimental verification of the Kruskal-Shafranov stability limit in line-tied partial-toroidal plasmas

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