Dynamic Interactions of Plasmas and Fields (Physics)

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A three and a half year research program will continue the investigation of the interaction of plasmas with moving magnetic and electron fields. The resulting nonlinear plasma dynamics is of general interest in basic plasma physics and has many relevant applications in fusion and space research. Experiments will be performed in large laboratory plasmas which have extensive diagnostics and data processing capabilities. For example, volume measurements of magnetic fields, space charge fields, particle distribution functions, and wave phenomena have been performed. The proposed investigations include (i) Formation of new magnetic whistler shocks when the relative motion between plasmas and fields exceeds the whistler wave speed. Such processes arise when the ions remain effectively unmagnetized and shocks form at super-"whistleric" rather than super--"Alfvenic" speeds. (ii) The generation of magnetic fields due to plasma motion will be investigated (dynamo process). (iii) The mechanism of current and space charge neutralization of particle beams injected into plasmas will be studied. (iv) The stability of various current configurations with respect to tearing, coalescence, tilting, kinking, pinching and disruptions will be explored.