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Faculty Publications

2003

Coupling

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Full-Text Articles in Physics

Observation Of And Model For Nonlinear Mode Conversion In A Non-Neutral Plasma, Grant W. Hart, Bryan G. Peterson, Ross L. Spencer Jul 2003

Observation Of And Model For Nonlinear Mode Conversion In A Non-Neutral Plasma, Grant W. Hart, Bryan G. Peterson, Ross L. Spencer

Faculty Publications

The nonlinear interaction of the two lowest Trivelpiece-Gould modes in a non-neutral plasma has been observed. Because of coupling in the nonlinear terms of the continuity and momentum equations, the two modes can exchange energy and convert one to the other. This can be modeled using the cold fluid equations and the averaging method. Experimentally, this process always stops with the lower frequency mode dominating the final state. Numerical integration of the model suggests that this occurs because the higher frequency mode is more strongly damped than the lower frequency mode.