Current drive generation based on autoresonance and intermittent trapping mechanisms.

Abstract

Two mechanisms for generating streams of high-velocity electrons are presented. One has its origin in auto resonance (AR) interaction, which takes place in the system after a trapping conditioning stage, the second being dominated by the trapping process itself. These mechanisms are revealed from the study of the relativistic motion of an electron in a configuration consisting of two counterpropagating electromagnetic waves along a constant magnetic field in a dispersive medium. Using a Hamiltonian formalism, we have numerically solved the equations of motion and presented the results in a set of figures showing the generation of streams of electrons having high parallel velocities. Insight into these numerical results is gained from a theoretical analysis, which consists of a reformulation of the equations of motion. The operation of these mechanisms was found to circumvent the deterioration of the electron acceleration process that is characteristic for a dispersive medium, thus allowing for an effective generation of a current drive. Discussion of the results follows.