Abstract
The results of a theoretical and experimental study of the stability of inhomogeneous weakly ionized magnetoplasmas with no axial drift are reported. The study is carried out in the regime where ( Omega tau )e>1 and ( Omega tau )i<<1. A linearized two-fluid hydrodynamic stability analysis yields a dispersion relation which is analyzed numerically. Oscillations with an azimuthal phase velocity approximately equal to the electron diamagnetic drift are predicted to become unstable (onset) once the external magnetic field exceeds some critical value. Stability criteria are displayed graphically in terms of the magnetic field strength, neutral gas pressure, and discharge tube radius. Experimental measurements, which were made in a radio-frequency excited magnetoplasma, are found to be in excellent agreement with the predicted values of critical magnetic field and phase velocity over a wide range of neutral gas pressures and several different discharge tube radii.
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