Abstract
The role of electrostatic instabilities in the critical ionization velocity mechanism is investigated. The analysis is based on the theory developed by Sherman, which interprets Alfvén's critical velocity in terms of a circular process. This process involves the acceleration of electrons by a two-stream instability modified by the presence of a magnetic field. A general expression for the energy and momentum of ions and electrons associated with an electrostatic mode is derived in terms of the plasma dielectric constant. This is used in the case of the modified two-stream instability to determine the distribution of energy between ions and electrons. An extrapolation from the linear phase then gives an estimate of the energy delivered to the electrons which is compared to that required to ionize the neutral gas.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Alfvén, H.: 1954,On the Origin of the Solar System, Oxford University Press, Oxford.
Alfvén, H.: 1960, ‘Collision Between a Nonionized Gas and a Magnetized Plasma’,Rev. Mod. Phys. 32, 710.
Buneman, O.: 1958, ‘Instability, Turbulence, and Conductivity in Current-Carrying Plasma’,Phys. Rev. Letters 1, 8.
Buneman, O.: 1962, ‘Instability of Electrons Drifting Through Ions Across a Magnetic Field’,Plasma Phys. (J. Nucl. Energy, Pt C) 4, 111.
Danielsson, L.: 1970, ‘On the Interaction between a Plasma and a Neutral Gas’,Phys. Fluids 13, 2288.
Danielsson, L.: 1973, ‘Review of the Critical Velocity of Gas-Plasma Interaction I: Experimental Observations’,Astrophys. Space Sci. 24, 459.
Danielsson, L.: 1974, Experiment on the Interaction Between a Plasma and a Neutral Gas II’, TRITA-EPP-74-03, Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm.
Danielsson, L. and Lindberg, L.: 1974, ‘Polarization Measurement of Spectral Lines of Low Intensity and Short Duration’,J. Phys. E: Sci. Instr. 7, 817.
Danielsson, L. and Brenning, N.: 1975, ‘Experiment on the Interaction Between a Plasma and a Neutral Gas II’,Phys. Fluids 18, 661.
Ichimaru, S.: 1973,Basic Principles of Plasma Physics, A Statistical Approach, W. A. Benjamin Inc., Reading, Mass.
Krall, N. A. and Liewer, P. C.: 1971, ‘Low Frequency Instabilities in Magnetic Pulses’,Phys. Rev. A 4, 2094.
McBride, J. B., Ott, E., Boris, J. P. and Orens, J. H.: 1972, ‘Theory and Simulation of Turbulent Heating by the Modified Two-Stream Instability’,Phys. Fluids 15, 2367.
Raadu, M. A.: 1975, ‘Critical Ionization Velocity and Electrostatic Instabilities’, TRITA-EPP-75-28, Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm.
Sherman, J. C.: 1969, ‘Some Theoretical Aspects of the Interaction Between a Plasma Stream and a Neutral Gas in a Magnetic Field’, TRITA-EPP-69-29, Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm.
Sherman, J. C.: 1972, ‘The Critical Velocity of Gas-Plasma Interaction and its Possible Hetegonic Relevance’,Nobel Symp. No. 21, Almqvist & Wiksell, Uppsala, p. 315.
Sherman, J. C.: 1973, ‘Review of the Critical Velocity of Gas-Plasma Interaction II: Theory’,Astrophys. Space Sci. 24, 487.
Stringer, T. E.: 1964, ‘Electrostatic Instabilities in Current Carrying and Counterstreaming Plasmas’,Plasma Phys. (J. Nucl. Energy, Pt C) 6, 267.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Paper dedicated to Professor Hannes Alfvén on the occasion of his 70th birthday, 30 May, 1978.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Raadu, M.A. The role of electrostatic instabilities in the critical ionization velocity mechanism. Astrophys Space Sci 55, 125–138 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00642584
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00642584