Effects of Yushmanov-trapped particles and anisotropy of velocity distribution on the potential formation in the end region of a tandem mirror

• Published in: Journal of the Physical Society of Japan Vol. 63; no. 2; pp. 558 - 572
• Main Authors: TATEMATSU, Y, KIWAMOTO, Y, SAITO, T, TAMANO, T
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Tokyo Institute of Pure and Applied Physics 1994; Physical Society of Japan; The Physical Society of Japan
• Subjects: Exact sciences and technology; Magnetic confinement and equilibrium; Magnetic mirrors; Physics; Physics of gases, plasmas and electric discharges; Physics of plasmas and electric discharges; Theoretical study; Electric potential; Velocity distribution; Anisotropy; Trapped electrons; Tandem mirrors
• ISSN: 0031-9015; 1347-4073
• DOI: 10.1143/JPSJ.63.558

Theoretical analyses are made on the structure of the potential distribution along open field lines in a plasma where the velocity distributions of particles are modified from Maxwellian to include Yushmanov-trapped components and temperature anisotropy. The considered particle species are warm electrons and ions flowing out of the system, secondary electrons flowing backward, and Yushmanov electrons trapped between a stronger side of the magnetic field and reflecting potential. The analyses show systematic variations in the potential profile with the change in the temperature anisotropy and the abundance of the Yushmanov-trapped particles. Moreover, the analyses predict measurable feed-back effects to the local heating for the plasma control.