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Rayleigh instability in non-uniform multi-ion species magnetoplasmas

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 November 2005

KH. H. EL-SHORBAGY
Affiliation:
Plasma Physics Department, Nuclear Research Center, Atomic Energy Authority, Cairo, Egypt
P. K. SHUKLA
Affiliation:
Ruhr-Universität Bochum, D-44780 Bochum, Germany ([email protected])

Abstract

We present the Rayleigh instability of low-frequency (in comparison with the ion-gyrofrequency) electrostatic waves in multi-ion species plasmas containing equilibrium density gradient and transverse ion-sheared flows caused by the dc electric field. For this purpose, multi-fluid equations are used to obtain the governing equations for two-dimensional convective cells and pseudo-three-dimensional drift waves in a non-uniform magnetoplasma. Standard procedures are then employed to study the Raleigh instability. Thresholds and growth rates are obtained. Applications to Hall thrusters are discussed.

Type
Papers
Copyright
2005 Cambridge University Press

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