Introduction to Plasmas and Plasma Dynamics

Plasma Acceleration and Energy Conversion

Introduction

In many proposed devices with configurations of electric and magnetic fields, the interactions are geometrically complex due to the three-dimensional character of the physics and the devices. We begin by examining a problem that allows the nature of the coupling of equations and ultimate result of the applied fields to be seen more transparently.

The flow of plasma in enclosed channels offers the possibility of controlled application of electric and magnetic fields for the purpose of acceleration or energy conversion. The principles of the interaction can be studied more easily in the one-dimensional (1D) and two-dimensional (2D) models of the flow. In fact, the effects of viscosity and other ...