rf-Induced Stability and Transport in Axisymmetric Tandem Mirrors

Abstract

A kinetic theory of the pondermotive force on a plasma due to an electromagnetic ion cyclotron wave is developed and applied to axisymmetric mirrors. The force due to nonresonant particles is shown to modify the usual magnetohydrodynamic interchange stability criterion. Resonant-particle contributions to the force arise from the absorption of photon momentum and spin. This effect drives a radial particle flux, modifies the radial ambipolar potential profile, and couples transport and stability.