Studies In Stability And Control Of High Temperature Plasmas

The objective of the study is to develop applicable theories for the stabilization and control of high-temperature plasmas taking into consideration various physical constraints and nonlinear effects. The main results include the development of a theory for the feedback stabilization of highly-conducting nonlinear plasmas. A summary of the results is given first. The technical details are given in the Appendices. (Author).

The report briefly summarizes results of research studies leading to the stabilization and control of plasma instabilities in a magnetic mirror device (ELMAX) of the Plasma Physics Research Laboratory during the period 1 November 1966 to 30 June 1973. Results are categorized under plasma source development, diagnostic methods, instabilities, stabilization, and theory. A complete listing of all publications/presentations is included. Feedback and parametric suppression of drift-type instabilities, development of time-resolved diagnostic methods for determining exact phase relationships among key plasma parameters, and extension of collisional drift wave theory are a few of the accomplishments cited. (Author).

Complex plasmas differ from traditional plasmas in many ways: these are low-temperature high pressure systems containing nanometer to micrometer size particles which may be highly charged and strongly interacting. The particles may be chemically reacting or be in contact with solid surfaces, and the electrons may show quantum behaviour. These interesting properties have led to many applications of complex plasmas in technology, medicine and science. Yet complex plasmas are extremely complicated, both experimentally and theoretically, and require a variety of new approaches which go beyond standard plasma physics courses. This book fills this gap presenting an introduction to theory, experiment and computer simulation in this field. Based on tutorial lectures at a very successful recent Summer Institute, the presentation is ideally suited for graduate students, plasma physicists and experienced undergraduates.

Plasma science is the study of ionized states of matter. This book discusses the field's potential contributions to society and recommends actions that would optimize those contributions. It includes an assessment of the field's scientific and technological status as well as a discussion of broad themes such as fundamental plasma experiments, theoretical and computational plasma research, and plasma science education.